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THE HISTORY 



OF 



HE TOWN AND COUNTY 



or 



POOLE; 



"Te^eTo* TO THE PRESENT TIME; 



By 



JOHN SYDENHAM. 




POOLE 

SYDENHAM, 105, HIGH STREET. 
LON DO N; WHXTTAKE^CO., ***** «** 

1839. 



SYDENHAM, PRINTER, HIGH STREET, POOLE. 



51 "S4 



'Oo 



I 






r 






PREFACE 



TOPOGRAPHY is, at the best, an unpromising and 
unthankful branch of literature. Neither in the pecuniary 
return which is customarily its lot, nor in the reputation 
awarded to its student, does it offer any inducement to 
undertake that labour and expend that time which it 
rigidly requires. Some other, perhaps better, motive 
must, therefore, be called into operation, — something like 
a love of the labour for its own sake, — something of a 
feeling of association and identification between the 
topographer and his subject, — something akin to what 
was felt by the poet, in his oft repeated but beautiful 

lines, 

" Nescio qua natale solum dulcedine cunctos 
Ducit, et immemores non sinit esse sui." 

Such motives and feelings do prevail. He who explores 

the recorded annals of past ages, or ascends into the mists 

of traditionary legend, finds, in his researches, reward 

for the past and encouragement to proceed. War ton 

well delineated his own conviction and that of many 

others, when he asserted that 

" Not rough nor barren are the winding ways 
Of hoar Antiquity, hut strewn with flowers." 



\ 



11. PREFACE. 

Such have been the motives prompting to the present 
publication. Feeling desirous to see established, in a 
more permanent and collected form than had before existed, 
the scattered memorials of the by-gone days of my native 
town ;— feeling also that every endeavour to elucidate 
the local notices of any district was something cast into 
the treasury of Topography — the useful handmaid of 
History, — and a fragment offered towards the completion 
of an eminently desirable series of local histories ranging 
over the kingdom ; — / have edited the volume now pre- 
sented. It is the condensed product of collections made 
in the leisure hours of several years; and, should it 
appear that too long time has elapsed since the publication 
was first spoken of, let it be remembered that the hours 
devoted to it have been snatched from other avocations, 
and have been much encroached on by the privations of 
sickness. 

It is true that Poole cannot boast much of high anti- 
quity : it offers no memorials of the days when the Druid 
altars frowned upon the isle, and presents but scanty 
associations with the more refined era of Roman rule; 
but its annals, are, nevertheless, not altogether destitute of 
interest. The commercial and political importance which 
the town has attained for many years past, justifies some 
attention to its more ancient state. Gradually increasing 
in wealth, respectability, and population ; the seat of 
much internal trade and of extended foreign commerce, 
it surely became desirable to trace its gradual progress in 
prosperity. The wattled hut of the Saxon, the rude home 
of the Anglo-Norman fisher, have made room for the 
stable residences of wealthy merchants, and for the tall 
warehouses laden with the riches of their commerce ; the 



PREFACE. 



111. 



■ 



once swampy marsh, whose silence was only broken by the 
cry of the bittern and the heron as they flapped their 
heavy wing, affrighted by the plashing oar of the solitary 
fisherman, has become solidified by the mingled operations 
of nature and art, and now sends forth the confused buz 
of commercial industry ; whilst the adjacent waters, erst 
broken but rarely by the frail vessels of their frequenters, 
have since borne on their surface the enrichi?ig product of 
many a varied clime. It is a matter of some interest 
to trace the prog?*essive development of the effects thus 
produced by civilization an d the concurrence of favouring 
circumstances. And it is thought that the municipal 
memorials of Poole present matter of especial moment, in 
clearly indicating the course and progress of many of the 
important changes which, either by sudden violence or by 
gradual adaptation to the circumstances of society, were 
effected in the municipal institutions of the kingdom. 

It is not presumed that this volume approaches to that 
form which should be presented by a complete work of the 
kind; but it is believed that those who feel any interest in 
the town of Poole, or in topography as a study, will here 
find much never before published, many facts now first 
brought to light. 

The classification adopted will, I hope, render the work 
one of easy reference. 

In presenting this book to the public, I have no apology 
to make, for I know not that any page contains a word 
likely to be offensive to any man. But to those kind 
friends by whose advice and assistance I have been fur- 
thered in the progress of the work, I have the gratification 
of desiring them to accept my sincere acknowledgments. 
My tha?iks are especially due to Dr. Salter, for the 



IV. PREFACE. 

valuable paper on the Botany of the district with which 
the volume is enriched. 

It only remains to add that the difficulties of research 
have been much lessened by frequent reference to the 
pages of Hutchins, the venerable pioneer of Dorsetshire 
topography ; and that for the family history of the Long" 
espees, I am greatly indebted to the genealogical erudi- 
tion of Mr. J. G, Nichols, developed in that pleasing and 
important volume, " Lacock Abbey J 9 



J. S. 



Dorchester, 
October, 1838. 



CONTENTS, 



Localities of Poole, 1 

THE MANOR. 

Descent of the Manor of Canford and Poole, with historical and 

biographical memoranda of its possessors 4 

Edward de Sarisberie, his ancestors and successors 5 

The Countess Ela, 8 

William Longespee, I., Earl of Salisbury 9 

William Longespee, II 15 

William Longespee, III 24 

Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln 25 

Thomas Plantagenet, earl of Lancaster 28 

Hugh de Spencer 31 

John, earl of Warren and Surrey ib. 

The Montacutes . , 32 

William Montacute, earl of Salisbury 35 

William, the second earl of this line 38 

John, the third earl 41 

Thomas, the fourth earl 43 

Kichard, the fifth earl 46 

John, duke of Bedford ib. 

Cardinal Beaufort 47 

John, duke of Somerset ib. 

Edmund, earl of Morton 49 

Henry, his son. ib. 

George, duke of Clarence ib. 

Edward Plantagenet, his son 50 

Margaret, countess of Richmond 51 

Henry Fitzroy, duke of Richmond and Surrey 52 

Henry, marquis of Exeter,. ib. 

Edward, duke of Somerset 53 

Gertrude, marchioness of Exeter ib. 

James, lord Mountjoy 55 

John and Charles Brown -— 56 

The earls of Huntingdon , ib. 

The Webb family 57 

Present possession of the Manor 58 

Effect of the Charter of the 10th Eliz., in regard to the Manor 60 

Litigated rights of common 61 

The Inclosure Act, and its operation 65 

The ancient and modern Manor houses ,-c 67 

Extent of the Manor , 69 



VI. CONTENTS. 

GENERAL HISTORY. 

The Antiquity of Poole, with notices of the British, Roman, and 

Saxon periods 70 

Discovery of Roman coins 72 

Poole visited by the Danes 73 

Extract from Domesday Book 76 

Rise of Poole under the Norman kings 77 

Recognized as a Port by Henry III 78 

Charter of William Longespee granted ib. 

Its date ascertained e 79 

Writs issued to Poole for the supply of shipping, t. Henry III., 

Edw. I., Edw. II., Edw. III., with copies of several 80 

Representatives summoned to the maritime councils of Edw. III. . 85 

Plague of the fourteenth century 88 

Notice of the career of Henry Paye, a native of Poole 90 

Invasion of Poole by Spanish and French privateers in 1405 ...... 91 

Prosperity of Poole under Henry VI. and Richard III 94 

Attempted artifice to entrap the duke of Richmond 95 

Act of 34 Henry VIII., granting a mill and a conduit at Tatnam. . 97 
Beacon of Worbarrow anciently served by the inhabitants of 

Poole 98 

Precautions against invasion, 1558 99 

Temporary declension of the prosperity of Poole ib. 

Trade in beer 100 

Population in 1573 103 

Precautions against piracy and restrictions upon shipping 104 

Disputes between the authorities of Poole, and the vice-admiral of 

Dorset, with loss of life thereon 105 

Measures to prevent the conveyance of youth abroad for education 

in Popish seminaries 109 

Note descriptive of the intent of such seminaries ib. 

James I. demands loans, and subsequently a contribution, under 
pretence of protecting commerce, indicating the coming 

contest between the crown and the parliament 112 

The Ship Money question 114 

Preparations for civil war 116 

Poole takes part with the parliament from the first ib. 

Is engaged in the negociation with sir A. Ashley , 117 

The marquis of Hertford expelled 118 

Seizure of suspected royalists , 119 

Siege of Corfe-Castle . . . 120 

Preparations for defence against the threatened attack of prince 

Maurice ib. 

Plot to betray the town to the royalists 121 

General measures of defence, and miscellaneous proceedings of the 

garrison 124 

Action with sir Lewis Dives 127 

Siege of Corfe-Castle ib. 

Account of expenditure and receipt by the treasurer of the town . . 129 

Poole discountenanced at the Restoration 131 

Charles II. afterwards visits Poole 132 

Fabricated pathetic story regarding " Cutler's Gallows," 134 

Tradesmen's and Town Tokens 135 

Poole favours Monmouth's rebellion, and rejoices at the revolution 

of 1688 137 

Measure of defence against a threatened invasion by France 138 

Heroic bravery of captains Jolliff and Thompson , . . . 139 



CONTENTS. Vll, 

general history, continued. 
Extent of smuggling in the eighteenth century ; r and horrible murders, 

in consequence of the seizure of smuggled goods at Poole . . 140 
Patriotic conduct of the inhabitants during the war of the French 

Revolution 144 

Bravery of William Welstood 145 

Rejoicings at the Peace of 1814 146 

Poole made a free port 147 

MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

Origin and growth of municipal establishments 149 

Condition of the borough of Poole at the time of Longespee's charter 153 

Copy of Longespee's charter, with translation 154 

Observations thereon ...» 157 

Inquisitions, 1312, 1341 159 

Abstract of the charter of William de Montacute ib. 

Charter of confirmation of Thomas de Montacute 160 

Abstract of the charter of 11 Henry VI 161 

Disproval of' Spelman's doctrine regarding the essentials of a 

borough 162 

Abstracts of the charters of 31 Henry VI., 1 Edward IV., and 

3 Henry VIII 163 

Licence to purchase wood in the royal forests, 12 Henry VIII. 164 

Charter of exempt admiralty jurisdiction, 18 Henry V III ib. 

Quo-warranto, 3 & 4 Philip and Mary 165 

Charter of 1 Elizabeth ib. 

Miscellaneous municipal fragments ib. 

Visitation of Clarencieux, king at arms, and exemplification of the 

armorial bearings of the borough 167 

Review of the progress of municipal government, from the charter 
of Longespee to the 10 Elizabeth, tracing the origin of the 
system of exclusion and self-election up to the ancient 

jury of the court leet 169 

Innovation by the enfranchisement of non residents and other 

persons not possessing the scot and lot qualification 176 

Abstract of the charter 10 Elizabeth \ 179 

List of corporate counties, (note) , 181 

Poole still subject to the lord lieutenant of Dorsetshire, (note) 181- 

Letter from Dr. Walter Haddon, to sir William Cecil .... 185 

Effect of the charter on the machinery of municipal government. 186 

Examples of admissions to burgesship 190 

Practice of sending non-residents to Parliament . . 193 

The vesting of municipal authority in a Select, exclusive, and self- 
elected body, encouraged by circumstances affecting the 

whole kingdom -. ib„ 

Interpolations in the records, and erasures of the word "com- 
monalty" 195 

Impropriety of regarding the word "commonalty," as designating 
the scot and lot householders; they being the ancient 

" burgesses" of the charters „ ib. 

Restricted privileges of the non-resident burgesses 196 

Operation of the Corporation act of Charles II., and removal of 

officers consequent thereon 197 

Abstract of the charter 19 Charles II 199 

Charters suspended by quo-warranto, 35 Charles II 203 

The submission of the "mayor, bailiff's, burgesses, and commonalty" 

and proceedings thereon ..,,...,,,,.,, ,,..,.,. ib, 



VIII. CONTENTS. 

municipal history, continued. 
Issue of a new commission of the peace, and interference of the 

manorial lord during the suspension of the charters .... 208 

Object of the forced surrender of charters 209 

Abstract of a charter of 4 James II., (Sept ) offered to the town 

but rejected; with reasons for the rejection ib. 

Abstract of the charter of restitution 4 James II. (Dec.) 211 

Steadiness of municipal government down to 5 & 6 William IV. 214 

Report of the commissioners of inquiry, 1833 215 

Changes effected in the constitution of the borough, by the Act 5 & 6 

Win. IV., c. 76. (Municipal Reform Act) 227 

List of mayors from the earliest recorded date, 1422 235 

List of recorders, Avith biographical notices 240 

Parliamentary Annals :— 
Sketch of the rise and gradual developement of the great national 

council ; and separation of the two houses 244 

Poole first sent representatives t. Edward III 250 

Intermission of representation from 42 Edw. III., to 31 Henry VI., 

and the cause thereof ib. 

Motives for the resumption of repi-esentation, 31 Henry VI 251 

Interference of the crown and great families in returns to the House 

of Commons, with instances of such interference at Poole 253 

Extending power of the Commons 255 

Decision in favour of the right of the non-resident burgesses of 

Poole, to the elective franchise 256 

Disputes between the select governing body and the scot and lot 

bm*gesses touching the elective franchise 259 

Double return, 1688, and observations thereon ib. 

Disputed returns, 1774, 1780, 1790, 1791 263 to 271 

Qualification settled by the Act 2 Wm. IV., c. 45. (Parliamentary 

Reform Act) 273 

Extension of the borough for Parliamentary purposes ib. 

List of representatives, with biographical notices 274 

Franchise for the county of Dorset 290 

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

The Church of Poole, traced up to its dependance on the parish 

church of Canford 291 

Grant to the priory of Bradenstoke 292 

On the surrender of the priory, the rectory of Poole came into the 

possession of the crown, 1539 293 

Recital of the various leases ". 294 

Conveyance to Hiley and others, and disputes thereon 295 

Extract from the Inquisitiones Nonarum 298 

Taxatio of Pope Nicholas ib. 

Valor of Henry VIII 299 

Returns to the Commission of 1650 ib. 

■ Returns to the Commission of 1S35 300 

Revenues of the rectory ib. 

List of perpetual curates, with biographical notices 302 

The old church described 310 

Inventories of plate, ornaments, &c ib. 

The present clmrch described 315 

Monumental inscriptions 317 

Hours of divine service 324 

Additional church-yard and separate burying ground consecrated ib. 



CONTENTS. IX. 

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, COlltillUOd. 

The Fraternity of Saint George. 

Sketch of the origin of fraternities . . 325 

That of St George was a religions establishment 326 

Probable time of its foundation 327 

Notices of its endowments ib. 

Objects of the fraternity 331 

The guild chapel 332 

Suppression of the fraternity 333 

Subsequent descent of its possessions ib. 

The Church of St. Paul 337 

Dissenting congregations. 

Origin and progress of Dissent in Poole , 338 

The old meeting house in Hill street 3 10 

The Independent meeting house 3 13 

The Baptist meeting house , < 3 16 

The Wesleyan Methodist meeting house 347 

The Friends' meeting house , 3 18 

Roman Catholic chapel 350 

Swedenborgians and Primitive Methodists ib. 

MARITIME HISTORY. 

Poole, a place of commercial resort in the twelfth century 351 

Inquisitio ad quod damnum, 1341 352 

Maritime jurisdiction recognized by certificate of the mayor and 

barons of Winchelsea, 1364 * 353 

Power of the cinque ports examined 354 

Letters patent of ] 1 Henry VI 355 

Number of vessels in 1574 and 1591 ; names of vessels and owners 356 

Commissions for the suppression of piracy 359 

Town dues and disputes thereon 360 

Abstract of the Quay Act, 20 Geo. II 361 

Admiralty jurisdiction. 
Poole had an exempt admiralty jurisdiction antecedent to the date 

of the Winchelsea certificate - 365 

Earliest extant records of the admiralty court (1550) speak of the 

court as having long existed 366 

Translation of the confirmatory charter of the vice admiral, 

18 Henry VIII ib. 

The Book of the Admiralty court 368 

Duties of the jurors ib. 

Jurisdiction of the court 370 

Boundaries of the Admiralty jurisdiction 371 

Perambulations 372 

Extinction of the exempt jurisdiction * 375 

The Harbour. 

Description of the harbour, with its islands, &c „ 376 

Its extent : statistical memoranda ... 377 

The shoal at the entrance considered 379 

Desirableness of preserving the full extent of backwater 380 

Striking and valuable peculiarity in the double tide of the harbour 382 

Situation and conveniences of the port 383 

Brownsea Island and Castle. 

Description of Brownsea island ; its etymology, &c 383 



r. CONTENTS. 

maritime history, continued. 

Descent of the possession 385 

The ancient copperas and alum works, and curious letter connected 

therewith 386 

The ancient fort or block-house, erected t. Henry VIII. 387 

Garrisoned by the town . < ib. 

Inventory of ordnance ib. 

Report on the state of the castle, 1552 388 

Provision of ordnance, t. Elizabeth #••• 389 

Disputes between the town and sir Christopher Hatton, the grantee 

of the castle 390 

Delivery of ordnance ib. 

The castle mentioned in sir John Norris's report, 1588 391 

Garrisoned for the parliament in the civil wars ib. 

Disputes between the town and the owner of the island, concerning 

the right to the castle 392 

The Port, Trade, and Customs. 

Early commerce 395 

Sketch of the rise, progress, and present state of the Newfoundland 

trade of the port 396 

General foreign trade 401 

Coasting trade, especially in clay ib. 

Chief imports and exports ib. 

Commercial statistics ib. 

The Custom house 403 

The fisheries ib. 

Manufacture of nets, cordage, and sail cloth 405 

THE CHARITIES. 

The charities chiefly vested in the old corporation 406 

Taken from their control, and vested in temporary trustees, by the 

Municipal Corporations Act ib. 

The Free School 407 

Charities of Harbin and Bennett 409 

Trenchard's Charity 412 

Sunday School ib. 

The old Almshouses 415 

Rogers's Almshouses 4l6 

Garland's Almshouses 419 

Jolliffe's Charity 422 

Benjamin Lester's Endowment . 423 

Sir John Lester's Endowment ib. 

Fawconer's Charity 424 

Shetland's Charity 425 

Society for the Relief of the Sick and Aged 426 

District Visiting Society ib. 

PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

The Guildhall 427 

The Gaol 428 

The Police Office 430 

The Gas Works ib. 

The Library 431 

The Town House 432 

The Town Cellars ; 433 

Tallages, (note) ib. 

The Markets 434 



CONTENTS. XI. 

public buildings, continued. 

The Workhouse 435 

Ancient mode of collecting for the relief of the poor 436 

The tenth part of grain shipped ib. 

The "Poor Man's box" ib. 

Keport of the Commissioner of inquiry 438 

Formation of the Poole Union 440 

Parochial statistics 441 

REMARKABLE TERSONS. 

Biographical Sketches of 

The rev. John Lewis, M.A 443 

The rev. Nicholas Gibbon, D.D 445 

Sir Peter Thompson, knt 447 

Robert Rogers 448 

Captains Jolliff and Thompson ib. 

MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 

Present state of Poole 449 

Population 450 

Parochial register of St. James 451 

Parochial registers, (note) ib. 

Local Taxation 452 

Facilities of communication 453 

Educational establishments 454 

Savings bank 455 

Masonic hall ib. 

Striking instances of masonic sympathy, (note) ib. 

THE NEW DISTRICT. 

Hamworthy ;........:.... 456 

Parkstone ...; 460 

Longfleet 462 



Appendix : the Botany of Poole and the neighbourhood 465 



JUST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 



The Right Hon. the Earl of SHAFTESBURY. 

The Right Hon. the Lord STRAFFORD. 

The Right Hon. the Lord DE MAULEY : 3 copies. 

The Right Hon. the Lord PORTMAN. 

The Hon. the Lord ASHLEY, MP. 

Sir CHARLES CHAD, Bart,: 3 copies. 

The Rev. Sir JAMES HAN HAM, Bart. 



Adey, Mr. W., Poole \ 

Adey, Mr. John, Poole 

Adey, Mr. S., Longfleet ) 

Aitkin, T. J. Esq., M.D., Poole 

Aldridge, H. M., Esq., Poole 

Arnold, T. Esq., Poole 

Ash, Mr. Jas., Taunton 

Baker, Mr. J., Christchurch 
Baker, Mr. R., Poole 
Bankes,W. J, Esq., Kingston Lacy 
Barnes, Mr. W., Dorchester 
Barnes, Mrs. R., Poole 
Barter, T., Esq., Poole 
Barter, Mr. J., Poole, 2 copies 
Bartlett, Thomas, Esq., Wareham 
Bayly, R. Esq., Trinity, Newfound- 
land 
Bell, T. Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c, 

London 
Billows, Mr. G., Poole 
Blanchard, Mr. J., Poole 
Bloomfield, Mr. J. B., Poole 
Bond, W., Esq., Temple, London 
Bowles, C, Esq., Shaftesbury 
Brown, Mr. T., Poole 
Buckley, Mr., Poole 
Burch, J. Esq., London 
Burt, Mr. T., London 



Bunn, J. B. Esq., Poole 

Calcraft, J. H., Esq. M.P. Remp- 

stone Hall 
Castleman, W., Esq., Wimborne 
Carter, Mr., Poole 
Churcher, J., Esq., Gosport 
Churchill, J., Esq., Poole, 6 copieSs 
Clark, J. S., Esq., London 
Clark, R. Esq., Farnham 
Collins, J., Esq., Heatherland 

Cottage, Parkstone 
Crabb, Mr., Poole 
Cranston, Mr. J., Ringwood 
Cross, T. E., Esq., Swanage 

Dinsdale, Mr. G. L., Warminster 
Doughty, E. T., Esq., Upton 

House 
Doughty, the Hon. Mrs., Upton 

House, 2 cppies 
Dowding, Mr. J., London 
Dugdale, Mr. E., Poole 
Durant, Rev. T., Poole 

Filliter, G., Esq., Wareham 
Flicker, Mr. PI., Poole 
Furnell, Mr. W., Poole 

Goss, Mr. Jos., Poole 



XIV 



LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 



Goodforde, John, Esq., Chilton ] 

Cantclo, Somerset 
Grove, Mr. R. A., Lymington 

Hairby, Jas., Esq., M.D., Spilsby, 

Lincolnshire 
Hall, Mr. C, Ansty 
Hancock, T. G., Esq., Poole 
Hamilton and Adams, Messrs., 

London 
Hannaford, Mr., Christchurch 
Harris, Mr. H., Poole 
Herbert, Mr. H., Wimborne 
Hiley, W., Esq., Christchurch 
Holland, Mr. G., Poole 
Hooper, Mr. J., Poole 

Jeffery, Miss, "Wilton, Somerset 
Jolliffe, W., Esq., Poole 
Jolliffe, Rev. P. W., A.M., Sterte 
Joyce, Mr. J., Poole 

Kelson, W., Esq., Trinity, New- 
foundland 
Kemp, Jas., Esq., Poole 
Kemp, A. Esq., Poole 
Kendel, Mr. G., Poole 
King, Mr. Jos., Poole 
Knight, Mr. H., Poole 

Lander, D. O., Esq., Poole 
Ledgard, G. W., Esq., Poole 
Ledgard, G., Esq., Poole 
Ledgard, R., Esq., Poole 
Lester, B. L., Esq., Stone Cottage 
Lyte, Capt., Christchurch 

Maclean, R., Esq., Weymouth 
Manston, Mr. J., Poole 
Martin, Mr. S., Poole 
Miller, Mr. J. S., Poole 

Naish, Mr. T., Poole 
Neave, Mr. Josiah, Gillingham 

. Overell, W., Esq., Christchurch 

Parr, Rev. J. C, A.M., Parkstone 
Parr, R. H., Esq., Poole 
Parr, J. E., Esq., Temple, London 
Parr, R. W., Esq., Parkstone 
Pedlar, Lieut. Col. P.W., Longfleel; 
Penney, Mr. R., Hamworthy 
Penney, Mr. G., Poole 



Pennie, J. F. Esq. Rogvald Cottage- 
Pickard, Rev. G., Bloxworth 
Pittman, Mr. C.,. Poole 
Pitt, W.M., Esq., Kingston House 
Plomer, Mr., Huish 

Robinson, G. R., Esq., London.. 
Robinson, Mrs., Poole 
Rowntree, Rev. M., Poole 
Rutter, Mr. J., Shaftesbury 

Salter, T., Esq., Poole 
Savage, Mr. J., Dorchester 
Seager, Jas., Esq., Poole 
Seager, Mark, Esq., Palermo 
Short, M„\ Joseph,? Poole 
Shipp, Mr., Blandford 
Silby, Mr. J. F. Poole 
.Simonds, Mr. G., Dorchester 
Skelton, Mr. G., Trinity, New- 

foundland 
Slade, R., Esq., Poole, 2 copies 
Slade, R. Esq., Parkstone 
Slade, T., Esq., Poole 
Steele, I., Esq., Poole 
Sturmey, Mr. Jas., Poole 
Sturt, H. C. Esq., M.P., Critchell. 

House 
Sydenham, Mr. T., Yeovil 
Sydenham, Mr. Jas., Poole 

Thompson, W., Esq., Lytchett 
Thorp, J., Esq., London 
Tregonwell, S . B.Esq , Edmonde- 

sham 
Tulloch, Mr. J., Parkstone 
Turpin, Mr. J., Poole 

Walker, W., Esq., Gosport 

Wanhill, Mr. T., Poole 

Warne, Mr. C, Milborne Saint: 

Andrew 
Washbourne, H., Esq., London 
Waterman, Mr. W., Poole 
Welch, M. K., Esq., Poole 
Were, R., Esq., Poole 
West, J. W. Esq., Poole 
Weston, R., Esq., Poole 
Williamson, Mr. J., Poole 
Whyte, Mr., Poole 

Zilhvood, Rev. I, O., Compton: 

Rectory, Hants 
Zilhvood, Mrs., Compton, Hants 
Zillwood, Mr. W. F., Fianiptan. 



THE HISTORY 



OF THE 



TOWN AND COUNTY 



OF 



POOLE, 



ON a beautiful inlet of the sea, near the south-eastern 
extremity of the county of Dorset, stands the busy port of 
Poole. Locally situated in the manor of Canford and in 
the county of Dorset, it has, nevertheless, long* enjoyed 
exempt and exclusive privileges. Its geographical position 
is in longitude 1 deg*. 58 min. west of Greenwich, and in 
latitude 50 deg*. 43 min. north. It is 108 miles distant 
from London by the road traversed by the mail, 10 from 
Ware-ham, 14 from Blandford, 6 from Wimborne, 12 from 
Ringwood, and 10 from Christchurch. 

The town, which is neatly built and remarkably clean, is 
placed on a peninsula jutting into the harbour and joined 
to the mainland by a narrow and short isthmus. It occu- 
pies a considerable tract of ground, being nearly one mile 
long and three quarters of a mile broad. The principal 
streets run parallel, from N. E. to S. W., and the minor 
streets and intersecting lanes are very numerous. The 
houses, which are generally commodious and respectable, 

B 



2 POOLE. 

have been built with more regard to convenience and 
comfort than to regularity and exterior splendour. Many 
of the public edifices are worth attention. 

It is the most considerable town in the county; and 
since the middle of the sixteenth century, when the influx 
of inhabitants and several grants from favouring- monarchs 
combined to encourage its trade and general prosperity, 
it has acquired much maritime importance. The princi- 
pal foreign trade is with the colonies in Newfoundland 
and British North America ; but mercantile transactions 
with other foreign parts are now engaged in ; and it has 
an extensive coasting* trade, being the port of supply to a 
considerable tract of inland country. 

The neighbourhood of Poole has been greatly improved 
since the commencement of the present century ; and the 
effects of a spirit of enterprise, expanded by the opportu- 
nities presented by enclosure acts and building leases, are 
pleasingly evident in the cultivation and planting of a large 
portion of the dreary and barren tract of waste land, which, 
in bygone days, presented so forbidding an approach to 
the town ; and in the rapid erection of long-extended lines 
of suburban buildings on spots where, but a few years 
since, the lowly heath-flower bloomed in undisturbed soli- 
tude. 

Poole Harbour, more especially when the tide is in, 
presents much scenic beauty : and the traveller, approach- 
ing the town from almost any direction, cannot fail to be 
struck with its picturesque situation. The water, nearly 
surrounding the town, spreading a surface of indistinct 
extent, broken by islands and projecting headlands ; — the 
shores, of a diversified character, here rising abruptly, there 
retiring into a low flat, and in many parts richly wooded ; — 
the bustling port, in the foreground, with its gallant array 
of masts and flags ;— the background, formed by the bold 
and well-defined outline of the lofty Purbeck hills, giving 
relief to the sombre ruins of Corfe Castle in their front;— 



POOLE. 6 

the island and castle of Brownsea, forming" a pleasing* ter- 
mination to one side of the view, whilst the other is bounded 
by the undulations of the distant heathy hills ; — com- 
bine to produce scenery of a very distinctive and agreeable 
kind. And, as the communication between the harbour 
and the sea is hidden by the overlapping of Brownsea 
island and the opposite sandbanks, the appearance is that 
of a large inland lake. 

One of the more prominent natural advantages derived 
by Poole from its protected situation, is that the climate is 
of a very mild and equable temperature, the variations of 
the thermometer being less than in most other places, — a 
circumstance that renders the town generally healthy, and 
a desirable residence for those whose physical constitution 
may require avoidance of the more extreme alternations of 
temperature. 



€ije alitor. 



From beyond the time of our earliest records, Poole 
has been a member of the manor of Canford, and its terri- 
torial history is therefore identical with the descent of that 
important and extensive manor. Few estates have passed 
through the hands of so many possessors as that now under 
notice; and its connection with so many of the highest 
families of the kingdom, and its association with names 
and events that are prominent in our national annals, invest 
it with a more than ordinary interest. In tracing the 
various transfers to which the manor has been subject, the 
earliest authentic record to which reference can be made 
is that great statistical document known as Domesday 
book. By this we are informed that Ulwen held this 
manor, then called ' Cheneford,' in the time of Edward the 
Confessor. 

[Family of Sarisberie. — (Rosmar.)] — This record 
then states, that at the time of the survey it was held of the 
King by Edward de Sarisberie ; that it consisted of 
eighteen carucates, and that this manor and that of Chine- 
stantone (now Kinson) were worth when he received them 
£50, but at the time of the survey £70. 



THE MANOR. 



This Edward de Sarisberie was the second son of 
Walter le Eurus&% earl of Rosmar, in Normandy, who 
was amongst the powerful chieftains that accompanied the 
duke of Nonnandy into England, and to whom, in consi- 
deration of the valour which he displayed in the battle of 
Hastings, the Conqueror gave the lordships of Salisbury 
and Ambresbury. This earl, before his coming into 
England, had issue Girold, afterwards earl of Rosmar, 
called ' Mantelec ;' who was the father of William de Ros- 
mar, called * Le Gros ;' who was the father of William de 
Rosmar, named * Meschin,' and he of another William de 
Rosmar, wbo died without issue. After his settlement in 
England, earl Walter had a son, the above Edward de 
Sarisberie-f-, who appears at the time of the general survey 
to have possessed two lordships in Dorsetshire, three in 
Somersetshire, one in Surrey, two in Hampshire, one in 
Middlesex, two in Hertfordshire, two in Buckinghamshire, 
and thirty-eight in Wiltshire, out of which county, being 
then sheriff thereof, he received in rent, as belonging to 
his office, a hundred and thirty hogs, thirty-two bacons, 
two bushels and sixteen gallons of wheat, as much of bar- 
ley, five bushels and eight gallons of oats, thirty-two 
gallons of honey or sixteen shillings, four hundred and 
eighty hens, a thousand and six hundred eggs, a hundred 
cheeses, fifty-two lambs, one hundred and forty fleeces of 
wool, having likewise a hundred and sixty-two acres of 



* Surnames were anciently given from particular circumstances connected with the 
individual. Sometimes they were derived from the place of his hirth, as Edward ' de 
Sarisberie,' and, as some have it, Walter 'deEvreux:' whilst, in most instances, 
they had reference to some personal peculiarity ; thus, as others derive it, Walter 'le 
Eurus,' (heureux,) or fortunate ; Girold 'le Mantelec,' from his peculiar mantelet, 
or cloak ; William ' le Meschin,' the avaricious ; William ' le Gros ;' Humfridus ' cum 
barba;' Ilanulph 'Gernons,' from his moustaches; &c. 

+ The early genealogy of this family is involved in much obscurity. Considerable 
dispute has arisen on the question whether this was a branch of the great Norman 
Counts of Evreux. Dugdale, however, and the Lacock Book, do not ascribe to them 
an j- such origin; and an investigation into the various writers on the subject, leave 
the matter in great uncertainty. We have adhered to the statement of the Lacock 
Book. Edward of Salisbury must have been vqtj young at the time of his succes- 
sion to the estates by the death of his father ; if, indeed, the statement be true that 
he was born after the arrival of his father in England with the Conqueror. 



6 THE MANOR. 

arable land, and amongst the reeves-land to the value of 
forty pounds per annum. This Edward was one of the 
witnesses to king- William, the Conqueror's foundation 
charter of the abbey of Selby, in the county of York. 
And in the 20th Henry I, being* the king's standard bearer 
in the battle of Brenneville, in Normandy, (Avhere king 
Henry I. was present and victorious,) he behaved with 
singular courage and military skill. The time of his death 
is uncertain. He left issue 

Walter, his son and heir, and a daughter called 
Maud, wife of Humphry de Bohun. This Walter having 
married Sibilla de Chaworth^, became the founder of the 
priory of Bradenstoke in the county of Wilts*f*, for canons 
regular of St. Augustine, plentifully endowing it with lands 
and revenues ; and, surviving her, he took the habit of a 
canon there. After which, departing this life in that house, 
he was buried with her in one grave near the choir there, 
leaving issue 

Patrick, his son and heir, who was advanced to the title 
and dignity of earl of Salisbury, by Maud the empress, 
being then steward of her household; and in the 18th 
Stephen, upon the accord then made between Henry, duke 
of Normandy, and king Stephen, he was one of the wit- 
nesses thereto, by the title of earl. After which, from 
the beginning of the reign of king Henry II., until the 
end of the sixth year of that reign, he was sheriff of the 
county of Wilts. In the 10th Henry II. he was one of the 
witnesses to the recognition of the ancient laws and liber- 



* This lady was of that family, from -whom was descended the beautiful girl who 
awakened the first feelings of passion in the breast of the youthful Byron, called 
by him " The last scion of an ancient race," and of whom he has written in language 
of such pure affection. 

■fr The ancient Priory of Bradenstoke was founded in 1142, for religious of the 
order of Augustine or Black Canons, in honour, as most houses of the kind were 
built, of the " Blessed Virgin. " On the valuation taken of this priory, shortly be- 
fore its dissolution, its total income amounted to £270 10s. 8d., and its net revenue, 
after deductions, to £212 19s. 3d. It was granted in exchange to Richard Pexel, 
38th Ilcnry VIII. From the heirs of Pexel, or Pct'sall, it came, by purchase, into 
the possession of the Methuens, of Cyrshain, 



the manor; 7 

ties of England, then made by that king. In the 12th 
Henry II., upon the aid then assessed for marrying that 
kino's daughter, he certified his knight's fees to be in mini- 
ber seventy-eight and two-fifths. In the 13th Henry II., 
being in Normandy with the king, upon the rebellion of the 
Poictevins and Gascons, after the taking of the castle of 
Lezinnian, when king Henry went to meet the king of 
France, and to expostulate with him touching his injuries, 
he was left with the queen during her stay in that castle. 
This earl Patrick, for the health of the souls of his father 
and mother, and of the soul of Maud his wife, confirmed 
those grants which Walter de Salisburie, his father, had 
made to the canons of Bradenstoke, upon his foundation 
of that monastery, and gave them lands in Wilecote, in 
exchange for those in Wyvelesford, given to them by his 
father. The rest of the manor of Wilecote he g-ave them 
in lieu of the church of Caneford, and chapel of St. An- 
drew, at Cettre, and bestowed on the knights templars a 
mill at Lacock, in the county of Wilts. Being the king's 
lieutenant in Aquitaine, and captain general of the forces 
there in the year 1167, 13th Henry II., he was then slain 
by Guy de Lusignan, upon his return from a pilgrimage 
which he had made to St. James in Gallicia, and was 
buried at St. Hilary in Poictiers. The king so highly 
resented his death, that he expelled Guy out of Poictou; 
and as the earl was slain in his attendance upon the queen, 
Eleanor, she procured the king her husband to join with 
her in the gift of all their customs in Benai, unto the 
church where he was buried. This earl Patrick was twice 
married. By his last wife, Ela, daughter of the count 
de Ponthieu, and widow of earl Warren, he had William, 
the next earl, and three other sons, named Walter, Pat- 
rick, and Philip. 

To him succeeded William, his son, in the earldom of 
Salisbury. This earl William at the coronation of king 
Richard I., bore the golden sceptre, with the doye on the 



O THE MANOR. 

head of it, in that solemn proceeding". And in the 
2nd Richard I., when the king was taken prisoner in 
Almaine, lie was one of those who adhered to John, earl 
of Moreton, then striving- for the rule here : at that time 
he likewise executed the office of sheriff of Wiltshire, 
which he held till the 8th Richard I. In 6th Richard I. 
he was with the king in the expedition then made into 
Normandy ; and was likewise present in his great council 
at Nottingham after his return into England. And at the 
second coronation of the king in the same year, he was 
one of the four earls who then carried the canopy of state. 
He died the next year, 1196, 8th Richard L, leaving issue 
by Eleanor de Vitrei his wife, daughter of Tirrel de 
Mainers, one sole daughter, his heir, called 

Ela, who was the heroine of a romantic incident, and 
the events of whose life aiFord still more ample provision 
for the pen of the poet and novelist, than even for that of 
the mere genealogist and historian ; and whose virtues and 
adventures were enshrined in many a troubadour's lay. 
Eight years of age at the time of her father's death, she 
was left an orphan possessed of immense property, and 
necessarily subject to all the wiles and violence resorted to 
in that age to obtain possession of rich heiresses. Whether 
with a view to protect her from such attempts, or with the 
object of sacrificing her inclinations and person at a fitting' 
age, cannot now be learned; but certain it is, that on 
losing the protection of her father, this richly portioned 
heiress was suddenly snatched from the scenes familiar to 
her infancy, and subjected to a jealous seclusion in a fo- 
reign country ; being taken into Normandy by her relations, 
and there brought up in close and secret custody. The 
fame of her beauty and wealth, however, having been 
bruited, an English knight, named William Talbot, un- 
dertook to discover the place of the youthful heiress's con- 
cealment. Assuming the garb of a pilgrim, the gallant 
Talbot passed over into Normandy, and there continued 



THE MANOR. t> 

his search for two years^. When at length he had found 
the lady Ela of Salisbury, he exchanged his pilgrim's 
dress for that of a harper or travelling troubadour, and in 
that guise entered the court in which the maid was detain- 
ed. As he sustained to perfection his character of a glee- 
man, and was excellently versed in the gests, or historical 
lays, recounting the deeds of former times, this stranger 
was kindly received, and soon treated as one of the house- 
hold. At last, his difficult undertaking was fully accom- 
plished ; when, having found a convenient opportunity for 
returning to England, he carried with him the heiress, and 
presented her to king* Richard. That monarch received 
her with that courteousness and chivalric consideration 
which were the characteristics alike of the king and of 
the a^e, and ^ave her in marriage to his brother William, 
surnamed Longespee, who was a natural son of Henry 
II., by Rosamund Clifford, better known as the "fair 
Rosamund," whose romantic name, her traditional fate, 
and the proximity of her bower and of her burial-place to 
the muses of Oxford, have all contributed to perpetuate 
that celebrity which her beauty acquired in her own days. 
This marriage, or rather affiancing*, took place in 119S, 
when Ela must have been ten or eleven vears of ao*e, and 
immediately after she was placed within the power of her 
sovereign lord. 

[The Longespees.] — With the other possessions of the 
elder house of Salisbury, the manor of Canford and its 
members passed by this marriage into the hands of Lon- 
gespee, who was so named from the long sword he wore. 
We find nothing recorded of this gallant warrior previous 
to his being affianced to Ela, and it is probable, from all 
concurrent circumstances, that he was then a youth just 
rising into manhood, and that his munificent brother, Rich- 



» Dugdale, in his Baronage, incorrectly says "months" instead of "years, 

c 



10 THE MANOR. 

ard, with whom he appears to have been a peculiar favourite, 
took the earliest opportunity ihus to confer upon him a 
provision suitable to his royal birth. On the death of 
Richard I., he adhered faithfully to John during' the early 
part of his reign, and was in frequent attendance on the 
king 1 , through the vagrant life in which his reign was spent. 
Immediately upon his marriage, or at least very shortly 
after, Longespee entered upon Ela's hereditary office of 
the shrievalty of Wiltshire. At the coronation of John, 
May 27, 1199, at Westminster, the earl of Salisbury was 
amongst the concourse of nobility present. He was ap- 
pointed constable of Dover castle, Sept. 9, 1204, and 
held that office for about twenty months. In 1205 he was 
appointed to the command of some troops embarked by 
John in his attempted enterprise for the recovery of 
Normandy. In 1209 he was constituted warden of the 
marches in Wales. He adhered steadily to his royal 
brother during that stormy period, when Pope Innocent 
fulminated his interdict against king John ; and is named 
first amongst those whom Matthew Paris calls the king's 
" consiliarii iniquissimi." He was, of course, involved in 
some of the scenes of humiliation which John was doomed 
to encounter. In 1213 he was one of the four great barons, 
whose names appear in the treaty entered into by John with 
the pope, and who all swore on the king's behalf to his 
observance of the ignominious conditions imposed by the 
pontiff. In the same year, he commanded the English fleet 
in the war with France, and surprising the fleet of Philip, 
the French king, entirely destroyed it. This expedition was 
unusually short ; for, surprising a large French fleet at an- 
chor in the haven of Dam, deserted by the soldiers, who 
had marched to ravage the country, the English forces, 
having soon overcome the sailors, immediately loaded thirty 
of the transports with every kind of store and provision, 
and sent them off to sail for England. They then proceeded 
to fire the despoiled vessels, amounting to a hundred or 



THE MANOR. 11 

more, which were lying" dry on the shore. This fatal loss 
blasted all Philip's grand projects, and obliged him to re- 
linquish his undertaking, — viz,, the reduction of Flanders, 
— and to return to Paris extremely mortified. In 1214 he 
was one of the five earls taken at the battle of Bovines, 
gained by Philip over the emperor Otho, of Germany ; but 
recovered his liberty in the following year. In the contest 
between John and his barons, Longespee attached himself 
to the party of the king, and was one of those threatened 
by the confederate barons, when besieging John in the 
tower, with the plundering of their estates. He was also 
one of those who attended on the king's side at Runny- 
mede ; and we find him amongst those named in Magna 
Charta. When the king had collected an army of fo- 
reign mercenaries, with the assistance of the pope, to 
whom he had been again reconciled, he divided his forces 
into two bodies, giving the command of one of them to 
Longespee, who first placed garrisons in the castles of 
Windsor, Hertford, and Berkhampstead, and then proceed- 
ed to watch the city of London, where the barons had fixed 
themselves, and cut off the supply of their provisions. He 
then ravaged Essex, Hertford, Middlesex, Cambridgeshire, 
and Huntingdonshire. By these exertions, the arms of the 
king were so successful, that the barons had only two cas- 
tles left, Mountsorrel in Leicestershire, and that of Robert 
de Ros in Yorkshire. At that crisis they turned for aid to 
prince Louis, the dauphin of France, who, in May, 1216, 
landed at Sandwich. We now encounter a remarkable 
change in the conduct of the earl of Salisbury. He who 
had been so lojtx] to his brother throughout all his difficul- 
ties, is now found suddenly to join the French invader. In 
assigning a motive for this conduct, our chroniclers enter- 
tain diverse views. Matthew Paris ascribes the desertion to 
a conviction on the part of Salisbury and those who were 
associated with him, that they were cleaving to the strong- 
est party, " as if they accounted it now perfectly certain 



12 THE MANOR. 

that Louis would obtain the kingdom of England ;" whilst 
the chronicle of Melrose speaks of their conduct as having 
been adopted with the intention rather of subverting than 
of assisting the cause of Louis. And their subsequent be- 
haviour would seem to favour this last conjecture. On the 
18th of October, in the same year, death terminated the 
turbulent and miserable reign of John, and shortly after- 
wards Longespee and the other three earls again changed 
their party, and acknowledged the young king, Henry III. 
On this return, Longespee was appointed sheriff of Somer- 
set and governor of the castle of Sherborne ; and was also 
constituted sheriff of Lincoln and governor of the castle 
there. The Clause Rolls for many subsequent years teem 
with entries of money and lands which were conferred 
upon him. From some of them we gather that the king 
presented him with £1000 in money, the payment of which 
was completed in November, 1219; and, besides, paid 
him yearly the sum of £300, until he was provided with 
escheated lands of that value. Lands of the value of £500 
had been promised to him by king John. He received 
scarcely fewer favours from the crown, than had fallen to 
his share when he was the companion of the late king. 
Besides the weightier matters already mentioned, gifts of 
deer and of timber are particularly frequent. In May, 
1220, he assisted at the foundation of the new cathedral 
church of New Sarum. The bishop laid the first stone 
for pope Honorius; the second for Stephen, archbishop 
of Canterbury; the third for himself. Then the fourth 
was laid by William, earl of Salisbury; and the fifth 
by his wife, the countess Ela, " a woman truly praise- 
worthy," adds the chronicler of this splendid pageant. 
For some time subsequent to this, Longespee appears to 
have led a courtly life, and was generally in attendance 
on his king: but, in the spring of 1224, his nephew, 
prince Richard, the king's brother, was placed under his 
guidance, that his maiden sword might be fleshed under 



THE MANOR. 13 

the direction of so experienced and gallant a soldier, in 
the plains of Gascony. Having" collected an army, the 
earl proceeded with his royal nephew through Gascony, 
reducing to obedience those who refused homage and feal- 
ty to king Henry. This campaign lasted about two years, 
in which Longespee bore the most conspicuous part. The 
voyage, on his return to England, was most disastrous and 
protracted for upwards of three months. During the in- 
terval, all his friends had despaired of his safety, except 
his faithful wife, who, though now a matron whose age 
and dignity ought to have commanded greater respect, 
became again an object of pursuit to the fortune-hunters 
of the court. The person who then had the greatest sway 
in the country, was the justiciary Hubert de Burgh ; a man 
who was no Jess remarkable on account of his power and 
prosperity under one king, than for his trials and sufferings 
under another. It is related by Matthew Paris, that, whilst 
king Henry was deeply affected with grief at the supposed 
loss of the earl of Salisbury, this potent minister, Hubert, 
came and required from him that he would bestow earl 
William's wife, to whom that earldom belonged by here- 
ditary right, on his own nephew Reimund, that he might 
marry her. The king yielded to this petition, provided the 
countess could be induced to consent; but she received 
Reimund with scorn for his offers, and protestations of her 
assurance of her husband's safety. On the arrival of the 
earl, after giving public thanks for his preservation and 
safe return, he proceeded to the king at Marlborough, and 
complained of the conduct of the justiciary and Reimund. 
Peace was however made between them ; the justiciary 
invited the earl to his table, where, it is said, the earl was 
infected with secret poison"^, and, thence returning to his 



* The frequent insinuations of suspected poison which occur in old chronicles, 
seldom deserve any other regard than as evidences of the ignorance of the times in 
pathological science. It is evident that nothing could be more likely to act as poison 
than the royal feastings of Marlborough, after the long privations of a disastrous 
voyage and shipwreck.— The memory of Hubert de Burgh has suffered considerably 



14 THE MANOR. 

castle of Salisbury, took to his bed grievously sick, and 
shortly afterwards expired, March 7, 1226. The interment 
of his body took place on the following" day, in the chapel 
of the Virgin in the new cathedral of Salisbury. " There," 
says the Rev. W. L. Bowles, "on the north, stood his 
monument, with his effigy, its sides ornamented with pillars 
and arches carved in wood, and panels richly painted, dia- 
pered, and gilt, having depicted around it, in alternate 
shields, the three lions passant of England, and the six 
rampant lioncels of Salisbury. In the year 1790, alas for 
cathedral improvements ! this monument was removed to 
its present situation in the nave, when the skeleton was 
found entire. The appearance of this ' son, brother, and 
uncle of kings,' to judge from his martial figure of grey 
marble, sleeping as it were from century to century, with 
his sword and shields upon his tomb in Salisbury cathe- 
dral, must have been singularly manly and commanding. 
His features are only partially exposed, through a small 
aperture in his hood of mail, which entirely covers his 
mouth and chin. His eyebrows are somewhat lofty and 
imperious ; but the eyes seem gentle and intelligent. His 
limbs are lightly cased with plaited mail, formerly gilt, 
which covers his hands and feet. On his body, above his 
mail shirt, he wears a surcoat, formerly blue, painted with 
lioncels, and lined with crimson ; this is confined by the 
belt of knighthood, with a golden buckle." 

The earl left issue at the time of his decease, by his 
countess Ela, four sons and four daughters ; the former 
were William, Richard, Stephen, and Nicholas. 

The countess Ela lived long after the death of the earl 
her husband, surviving both her son and grandson. Thus 

from suspicion and tradition ; for this alleged crime, as well as the participation in the 
death of prince Arthur, which is in legendary lore ascribed to him, are foreign to 
those indications of his moral character, which authentic history has handed down. 

* On this shield, azure, are embossed six lioncels rampant, 3, 2, 1, OR. The lion- 
eels painted on the surcoat, are like in number and arrangement ; but, by reason of 
the many foldings, they are not so easily discernible. 



THE MANOR. 15 

it was that neither of these enjoyed the title and estates of 
the earldom of Salisbury, which Ela inherited from the 
Edward of Domesday, and which, by the principles of the 
feudal law that then prevailed, became vested in her during" 
her life. As she continued a widow, the title remained 
dormant ; but the office of sheriff of Wiltshire, and that of 
castellan of Old Sarum, she was permitted to exercise in 
person, 11th Henry III. ; and again in the 15th of that reign 
she paid a fine of 200 marks, to have the custodv (i. e. the 
shrievalty) of the county and the castle of Sarum, during 
her whole life. She exercised the office until she became 
a nun, in 21st Henry III. A few years after her husband's 
decease, she founded the abbey of Lacock, and the priory 
of Hinton, and on Christmas day, 1238, Ela assumed the 
habit of religion in the former foundation, being 1 then in the 
51st year of her age. August 15, 1240, she was constitu- 
ted abbess of Lacock, and after having held peaceful rule 
over her monastic society for sixteen years, she relinquish- 
ed this station on the last day of the year 1256, and spent 
the last five years of her life in perfect retirement and 
seclusion. She died Augrist 24, 1261, in the seventy- 
fourth year of her age, and was buried in the choir of the 
monastery at Lacock. 

William Longespee the second inherited the name 
without the dignity of his father; the earldom of Salisbury, 
and the estates appendant to that title, being vested in the 
countess Ela, and consequently dormant through her wi- 
dowhood. It is probable that, if Ela had accepted a 
second husband, he would have acquired a title to the 
earldom as complete, during her life, as Longespee himself 
had enjoyed ; so closely at that period did the rights of in- 
heritance attach themselves to the husbands of heiresses^. 
We are informed that her son, when he became of age, 



* Thus, at the same period, the heiress of Albemarle had conferred the dignity of 
Earl successively on her three husbands, William de Mandeville, William de Fortibus, 
and Baldwin de Betuu ; it afterwards descended to her son and heir, who was born of 



16 THE MANOIt. 

claimed investiture of the earldom : but that the kinp* re- 
fused it, " not in his anger, or from an arbitary impulse," 
but judicialiter, that is, by the advice of his judges, and 
according to the principles of feudal law. He was a minor 
at the time of his father's death, and for some years after ; 
but he had been already provided with a wife of ample 
domains, the heiress of the two baronies of Hay in Lin- 
colnshire, and Camville in the county of Oxford, and 
elsewhere. The marriage of this lady, Idonea, the daugh- 
ter of Richard de Camville, had been granted to the 
earl, on the 22nd of April, 1216, specially for the advan- 
tage of his eldest son, William. In 1226 they were already 
married; but in 1231, young Longespee was still a minor, 
though Idonea had attained her majority. In the next 
year we find him serving with the army in Wales, being 
present, says Matthew Paris, in the royal camp, at the time 
when it was grievously despoiled by a night attack of the 
enemy. In 1233, (17th Henry III.,) he was girt with the 
sword of knighthood. He had been first " signed with the 
cross" in 1226, with many distinguished companions, but 
their intentions appear to have been suspended until towards 
the close of the year 1239 ; when an assembly of the prin- 
cipal croises of England took place at Northampton, to 
consult respecting their journey. It seems probable that 
at this period, as certainly on his second voyage to Pales- 
tine, Longespee headed an expedition distinct from that of 
the earl of Cornwall. He left England, says Matthew 
Paris, " about the same time" as earl Richard, but appa- 

the second husband. Isabel of Gloucester was the wife, first of John, (afterwards 
king,) and secondly of Geoffry de Mandeville, who were both earls of Gloucester 
in her right. In the reign of Edward I. , there was an instance of a man becoming an 
earl by marrying a widow only, without her being an heiress, (as is said to have hap- 
pened to Stephan de Longespe;) but in that instance the countess was one of the 
king's daughters. Her husband, Ralph de Monthermer, was earl of Gloucester and 
Hertford, so long as the princess Joan lived; but on her death the dignity left him 
and devolved on Gilbert de Clare, the son and heir of the princess by her first hus- 
band, whilst Ralph de Monthermer survived her for seventeen years, in the rank of 
a baron only.— Bowles. 



THE MANOR. 17 

rentlv it was not in his company. He arrived in England, 
on his return, in the beginning of March, 1241-2. At a 
later period of the same year (1242), he was present at 
the battle of Xantoigne, in Gnienne ; after which, he and 
the earl of Leicester (the great Simon de Montfort) re- 
mained at Bourdeanx with the king and queen, contrary 
to the advice of the majority of the English barons, and 
to their own great loss in the incurring' of debt. During* 
all these transactions, he appears to have borne the title of 
earl, by courtesy, though his claim to the dignity was in 
dispute, and he had therefore never obtained possession of 
the revenues of the earldom. On this account, in 1243, 
the king granted him an annuity of sixty marks out of the 
exchequer, until he should obtain judgment upon the 
claim he made to the earldom of Wiltshire and castle of 
Sarum. It was probably owing to the favour of his sove- 
reign, that he became possessed of other portions of the 
inheritance of Ela, including the manor of Canford and 
Poole. In 1247, says Matthew Paris, William Long'espee, 
shrewdly imagining that, like earl Richard, he might, 
' reaping* where he had not sown,' collect some emolu- 
ment from the crusaders, " went to the court of Rome, 
and soliciting our lord the pope (Gregory IX.) to further 
his views, said, ' My lord, you see that I am signed with 
the cross 1 ^, and am prepared to proceed on the expedition 



* The devotee who had assumed the cross, or become what the chroniclers call 
'crucesignatus,' was distinguished to the view of all men by a cross affixed to a con- 
spicuous part of his dress. The custom originated with the council of Clermont, 
held by pope Urban II., in 1095. The crosses were received, with certain ceremonies, 
from the hands of bishops or abbots. Those worn by great men were made of silk, 
and worked with gold; those of the commonalty of cloth. The colour was origi- 
nally crimson ; but different colours were afterwards taken, in order to distinguish 
the countiy of the wearer. In the expedition of 1188, Philip king of France and 
his followers adopted a red cross ; Henry, king of England, and his men, white cros- 
ses ; and Philip, count of Flanders, green. The ' crucesignati ' were invested with a 
variety of privileges and immunitits. They were freed from the payment of their 
debts, until after their return ; and exempt from interest on borrowed money ; and 
also from some taxes, (although at the same time subjected to other exactions, which 
were nominally for the benefit of the cause in which they embarked, but too often 
diverted to the personal emolument of the Pope, or of those who obtained the credit 

D 



18 THE M A NOR. 

with my lord the king of the French, to fight for God in 
this pilgrimage. I bear a great and well-known name, 
that is, William de Longespee, but my fortune is small ; 
for my lord the king of England, my kinsman and natural 
lord, hath taken away from me the title of earl, with its 
estate ; yet, as he did this judicially, and not in his anger 
or from an arbitrary impulse, I do not blame him. Thus 
I am obliged to fly to the paternal bosom of your compas- 
sion, to seek assistance from you in this necessity. For we 
see that the noble earl Richard, although he is not signed 
with the cross, yet is gathering much money in the king- 
dom of England, from those who are signed, through 
the influence of your too bountiful favour in that behalf; 
and I, therefore, who am signed with the cross, and in 
want, taking hope from his example, request the same 
favour for myself.' So the pope, considering at once the 
eloquence of his address, the force of his reasoning, and 
the gracefulness of his person, was favourably inclined 
towards him ; and granted him in part what he asked, that 
is, a broad thong out of another's hide^." By means of 
the pope's letters, as Matthew Paris afterwards mentions, 
the earl of Cornwall collected an infinite sum from those 
desirous to redeem their vows-}- ; of which the chronicler 
names as an instance no less than £600 from one archdea- 
conry ; and William Longespee obtained in all more than 
a thousand marks. It was about this time, 1248, as will 
be shewn in a subsequent page, that William Longespee, 



of being his commissioners. ) They were also permitted to pledge their estates, with- 
out consulting the chief lords ; and to have their causes tried in the ecclesiastical 
courts. All which, as may be supposed, led to a variety of abuses and inconvenien- 
cies. — Bowles. 
* A certain share of the earl of Lancaster's privilege. 

■t Multitudes assumed the cross who never left their native country : but their vow 
was then redeemed by a sum of money. There is, in the Fcedera, a proclamation in 
the form of letters patent, of Henry III., promising "in good faith" to his subjects, 
that no one who had been signed, or who should be signed, with the cross, in his 
dominions, should be compelled, on that account, to pay a greater sum of money for 
the redemption of his vow, than he had promised at the time of his assuming the 
cross. This is dated at Windsor, Jan. 18, 1251. 



THE MANOR. 19 

in all probability, granted to the burgesses of Poole, that 
charter which is the foundation of their privileges. This 
celebrated warrior took his second departure for the Holy 
Land in the month of July, 1249, accompanied by Robert 
de Vere as his standard-bearer, and a band of two hundred 
knights. " He departed," says Matthew Paris, " with the 
licence and blessing of his noble mother, the holy abbess 
of Lacock, being acknowledged the general of all the 
crusaders of England, and joined in safety the army of the 
French." His prowess and knightly deeds in fulfilment of 
his vow are matters of historical record : they sufficed to 
obtain for him not only the almost idolatrous admiration of 
his own immediate followers, but the bitter and jealous 
envy of the French. He was, in consequence, subjected 
to unjust aggression and to the violent spoliation of the 
riches he had taken from the enemy, by a party of the 
French, headed by the Comte d'Artois, the king's brother. 
Longespee, not meeting, at the hands of the French mo- 
narch, that full justice which he claimed fcr this outrage, 
withdrew from the army, and, with his followers, remained 
at Aeon for some time. Louis, however, having occasion 
deeply to regret the absence of Longespee and his soldiers, 
sent to him to return, and effected a reconciliation. The 
united forces adopted the bold resolution of marching at 
once towards the capital of Egypt ; and, with that inten- 
tion, the whole army marched in a body, towards the clcse 
of November, 1249. Until their approach to the vicinity 
of Mansoura, they overcame both the open and insidious 
enmity of the Saracens ; but they here experienced a consi- 
derable check from the Egyptian army, who stoutly con- 
tested the passage of the Achmoun canal. At length, at 
Shrove-tide, (Feb. 8, 1249-50,) a Bedouin offered to show 
them a ford, and the Comte d'Artois, with his characteris- 
tic impetuosity, immediatelv resolved to effect the passage. 
At the head of fourteen hundred knights, including the 
templars and hospitallers, with William Longespee and hi- 



20 THE MANOR. 

followers, he threw himself into the water; and after a 
slight resistance, they succeeded in mounting" the opposite 
bank, and the infidels were put to flight. Thus far the 
Christian army was successful : and, having surmounted 
an important obstacle, might, under prudent guidance, 
have continued its march in triumph ; but it was their next 
unhappy movement which led to the most fatal consequen- 
ces, no less than the death of William Longespee and the 
impetuous Artois, the capture of king Louis, and the final 
discomfiture of this crusade. If the Comte d' Artois had 
listened to the counsels of the leaders of the military bro- 
thers and the red-cross knights, he would not have advanced 
from the river until the main body of the army had come 
up. But the fiery Comte could not regard with calmness 
the sight of Mansoura, deserted by many of its inhabitants ; 
and, burning for personal distinction, he regarded their 
prudent counsels as the mask of pusillanimity. Matthew 
Paris gives at great length the sentiments expressed at the 
council of war ; in which, after the overbearing Artois had 
insulted the master of the templars, William Longespee is 
introduced as attempting to moderate the contest, and 
thereupon receiving a repetition of the Comte's injurious 
aspersions on the English nation. The taunts of the Comte 
prevailed where his reasoning was ineffectual ; and putting 
on their helmets, and expanding their banners, they pro- 
ceeded to the assault of Mansoura. The fate and fame of 
Longespee were made known not only by our historian 
Matthew, but by a travelling minstrel, whose poem is still 
extant, affording a circumstantial, though probably poeti- 
cal, description of all the incidents of the battled. The 
poem is entitled " Des svffrances de GuiL Longespee, pris 



* This poem is preserved in the Cottonian collection of MSS. Julius, A v., fol. 76, 
b, and printed with a translation, in the Excerpta Historica, 1831. Though the au- 
thor is unknown, it is clear from the internal evidence of the poem, that he was an 
Englishman, and, from its existing in the same manuscript as Peter of Langtoft's 
chronicle, (though not on any surer authority,) it has, with some probability, been 
ascribed to that author. The following lines with which the poet opens his quaint 



THE MANOR. 21 

par les Sarac'm?" The narrative is commenced with a 
description of the successful attack of the Christians upon 
the Saracens, after crossing" the river ; their short repose ; 
and the council of war which ensued. The assault of Man- 
soura is then minutely described ; the doughty deeds of the 
chief warriors being* separately enshrined in the minstrel's 
verse, and the most honourable mention made of Longespee, 
whose indomitable valour and heroic achievements appear 
to have been eminently conspicuous throughout the events of 
that disastrous combat. He is styled by the poet " the stout 
knight, the best warrior, than whom a more valiant cavalier 
hath not fought in arms since the time of Roland." The 
narrative accompanies him through every portion of the 
fight, in which " he fought most bravely, and sold his life 
rio-lit dearly. He, with five others, contended with rank 



but vivid rhymes, in an address to his auditors, will furnish a specimen of the ortho- 
graphy of the original, as the accompanying translation will of its expressions. 
*' Ky vodra de doel & de pite oier tres graunt 

De bon Willia Longespee ly hardy combatant, 

Ke fust oscis en Babilone, a la quarame pernant, 

Ke od le roi Louys alat o son host mut graunt, 

A un chastel de Babilone, Musoire est nomee 

Ke touz jours en Peinime sera renomee 

Por ly rois qe fust pris en cele chevachee 

Et les altres chivalers ki furent de sa meignee. 

Et ly Cunte de Artoise, sire Roberd li fers, 

(Ceo fu par son orguile tant fu surquiders) 

E meinz altres esquiers & pruz chivalers 

I perderunt la vie tant urunt desturbers ! 

Et meint home vailant i avoit dunqe oscis ; 

Et ly bon Willam Longespee, li chivaler hardiz." 
The following is a nearly literal translation : — 

" List with grief and with pity who wish to be told 

Of the good William Longespee, the champion so bold, 

Who, at Shrove-tide, in Egypt, his life-blood hath spent, 

As among the great host of king Louis he went, 

At a castle of Egypt, Mansoura by name, 

Which shall never in Paynim relinquish its fame, 

For 'twas there that king Louis a captive was ta'en, 

With the other brave knights who were then in his train. 

And 'twas there the Comte d'Artois, Sir Robert the fierce, 

(Whose pride was the cause of so sad a reverse) 

With esquires and true knights many more, met their fate, 

So complete the disaster, the slaughter so great ; 

There a host of brave men have alas ! found their grave ; 

And there fell the good knight, William Longespee the brave." 



22 THE MANOR. 

after rank, until the evening*, when he gave himself up a 
martyr." The description of the mortal conflict and sad 
end of this noble and heroic soldier of the cross, given in 
this poem, is amply corroborated by the details given by 
Matthew Paris; and the remarkable correspondence be- 
tween the two accounts, at the same time that they are 
evidently not derived the one from the other, is a circum- 
stance which is highly favourable to their general correct- 
ness. The prowess and chivalric demeanour of Longespee 
so won upon the admiration of the enemies against whom 
he had so powerfully contended, that on account of his 
excellence and honourable birth, they caused his body to 
be reverently interred ; and his bones were afterwards 
taken up, carried to Aeon, and solemnly buried there in 
the church of the Holy Cross^. Great and extended was 
the celebrity achieved by William Longespee, in his hero- 
ic and devoted sacrifice of life to the united call of military 
honour and religious enthusiasm. Not only did his exploits 
become, as we have seen, a stirring subject for the min- 
strel's rhymes, but they were perpetually referred to as a 
signal example of martial fame, if we may credit Matthew 
Paris. In mentioning the difference between England and 
France, in 1252, that historian states, that such was the 
glory that William Longespee had acquired by standing 



* The conduet of Saladin in respect to the remains of Longespee was alike honoura- 
ble to the renowned dead and worthy of the magnanimous leader of the Saracen host ; 
and how forcibly does it contrast with the petty ire and malignant envy of the French, 
who had to learn from their pagan enemy the homage due to virtue and valour ! The 
scene, as given by Matthew Paris, when the French messengers met Saladin to nego- 
tiate the redemption of prisoners, is so characteristic of that monarch, and so ho- 
nourable to Longespee's memory, that it may well be quoted. " ' I wonder,' said Sala- 
din, ' I wonder at you christians, who venerate the bones of the dead, that you do not 
ask for the bones of the most illustrious William Longespee. For many things, how 
true I know not, are dropped into my ears and others', respecting those very bones ; 
such as how, in the darkness of the night, there have been appearances upon his tomb, 
and how those who have called upon his Lord have received many benefits from hea- 
ven. For, on account of his excellence and honourable birth, we caused his body to 
be reverently interred, when he was slain in battle.' In answer to whom the messen- 
gers, having consulted among themselves, replied, ' How can we detract from this 
Englishman, when even these Saracens are unable to deny the celebrity of William.' 
They therefore requested his bones to be given to them,' which the Soldan graciously 
granted; and, carrying them to A<:on, they reverently buried them in the Church of 
the Holy Cross." 



THE MANOR. 23 

his ground, when even the French king's brother, the 
Comte d'Artois, basely fled, — that even Frenchmen could 
not deny that he shone, surrounded with a crown of mar- 
tyrdom. There is, in the cathedral of Salisbury, a sepul- 
chral effio'v of a crusader, which has been g-enerallv attri- 
buted to the second Longespee ; and nothing can be more 
probable than that Ela should have placed a monument to 
her son, in the same sacred edifice in which the bones of 
his brave and illustrious father reposed. Such is a brief 
sketch of the warlike life and heroic achievements of that 
illustrious noble to whom Poole is indebted for the first 
charter that gave a stimulus to its industry and prosperity, 
and for those liberties which the confirmations and aug- 
mentations of subsequent ages have so matured ; and on 
the foundation of which, so important a superstructure of 
municipal privilege has been erected. 

The pious historians who have traced the devoted and 
religiously enthusiastic career of the valiant Longespee, 
have recorded a circumstance connected with his death at 
once affecting, and indicative of the holy resignation and 
the fervid devotion, with which Ela regarded the fall of 
her son in the sacred cause of the cross. " In the niffht 
preceding this battle," we again quote Matthew Paris, " it 
appeared to his mother, the most noble ladj countess, and 
abbess of Lacock, that a knight, armed at all points, was 
received into the opening heavens ! The device upon his 
shield she presently recognised ; jet 9 being overwhelmed 
with astonishment, she demanded who it was that, thus 
ascending, was received by the angels into such glory ; and 
it was answered her, in a distinct and audible voice, 6 Wil- 
liam, thy son ! ' Having, therefore, taken notice of that 
night, the vision afterwards proved to be clearly fulfilled." 
Her reception of the fatal news is described in a subsequent 
passage : " Mindful of the vision, she, with ready spirit, 
clasped hands, and bended knees, broke forth into this 
grateful praise of God :— * O my Lord Jesus Christ ! I give 



24 THE MANOR. 

thee thanks, who from the body of me, an unworthy sinner, 
hast willed such a son to be born, whom thou hast vouch- 
safed to redeem with the crown of so glorious a martyr- 
dom ! I therefore trust that, by his tutelage, I may the 
more quickly arrive at the roof of my heavenly country.' 
So the relators of the melancholy tidings, who had long- 
been silent from fear, were astonished at her maternal piety, 
seeing it was not resolved into words of sorrowing com- 
plaint, but rather into those of spiritual joy." This cele- 
brated warrior left, by his wife Idonea, one son, 

William Longespee the third, who was a minor at 
the death of his father : he became possessed of all the 
lands the latter died seised of; but, for the reason before 
stated, he never enjoyed the title of earl of Salisbury ; and 
no second member of the house of Longespee was ever 
confirmed in the earldom. In 1254, he married Matilda, 
only daughter and heiress of Walter fcsron de Clifford, 
and great-neice to his own progenitor, the fair Rosamund 
Clifford. Only two years after, it was arranged that Mar- 
garet, his infant heiress, should be given in marriage to 
Henry, son and heir of Edmund de Lacy. This alliance 
appears to have been in the first instance negociated during 
the campaign in Gascony ; and was finally settled on the 
Friday next before Christmas. By a charter, saris date,. 
he granted to the monastery of Thetford, two marks year- 
ly rent out of his two mills, one at Canford, the other at 
Le Letio-efle, " which is on the sea," to be held of him 
by 2s. 4d. per annum. He was snatched away in 1257, by 
an untimely death, in consequence of injuries received at 
a tournament. The "mimic war," which led to this fatal 
event, is thus briefly noticed in the chronicle of Holinshed : 
" In Whitsuntide, (1266,) was hoi den a great justs at 
Blie, (Blyth in Nottinghamshire,) where the lord Edward, 
the king's eldest son, first began to show proof of his 
chivalry. There were divers overthrown and hurt, and, 
amongst others, William de Longespee was so bruised, 



THE MANOR 



25 



that he could never after recover his former strength." 
Edmund de Laci also died in the same year, on St. Mag- 
dalen's day, (July 21,) and, in consequence, Henry de 
Laci, the husband of Margaret Longespee, succeeded to 
the estates of both families ; but, being a minor, was in 
ward of the king, whilst his wife was in custody of the 
queen. 

The history of 3Iatilda Longespee, the widow of the 
third William, is somewhat remarkable. In 1271, four- 
teen vears after her husband's death, she made complaint 
to the king, that John, lord GifFard, had taken her by 
force from her manor house at Canford, in Dorsetshire, and 
carried her to his castle at Brimsfield, in Gloucestershire, 
and there kept her in restraint. He was, in consequence, 
summoned to the king, and, being told what was informed 
against him, he denied the charge, saying that he took her 
not against her will ; and tendered to the king a fine of 
three hundred marks for marrying her without his consent, 
of which the king accepted, upon condition that she made 
no further complaint. It would seem that these proceed- 
ings were a sort of friendly scheme, for encountering in a 
favourable way the penalty incurred by the lady's having 
taken a second husband without the royal permission. She 
died in 1282, and in the following year, John Giffard 
founded a cell in Oxford, (afterwards called Gloucester 
Hall,) for thirteen monks from the abbey of Gloucester, 
who were to pray for the souls of himself and Matilda 
Longespee, formerly his wife. He died on the 28th of 
May, 1299. 

[De Lacy.]— Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln, was 
of an ancient family, who came in with William the con- 
queror. The covenants of his marriage with Margaret 
Longespee are given by Dugdale. Soon after the death 
of his wife's father, he, with the countess, performed ho- 
mage for, and obtained liverv of, all the lands which had 



26 THE MANOR. 

m consequence devolved upon her. He was a highly dis- 
tinguished peer in the reigns of the first and second Ed- 
wards, and sometimes, in right of his wife, styled earl of 
Salisbury. On the feast of St. Edward, March 18, 1272, 
the earl of Lincoln received the honour of knighthood, and 
in the same year was appointed governor of Knaresborough 
castle. In 5th Edward I., he had livery of the fee which 
his ancestors had usually received " nomine comitates Lin- 
coln" with all the arrears from the time he was invested 
by king Henry HI. with the sword of that earldom. Upon 
several occasions, between the 6th and 10th Edward I., he 
obtained grants of fairs, markets, and free warrens, in 
different parts of his domains ; and in the year last men- 
tioned, he accompanied the expedition then sent into Wales. 
In the 20th Edward I., the earl was sent as ambassador to 
the king of France, to treat on the subject of the restraint 
of pirates, who had robbed some French merchants ; and 
in the 22nd year of that monarch, he again attended him 
into Wales, and was likewise in the expedition sent into 
Gascony. He accompanied the earl of Lancaster, in the 
24th Edward L, into Brittany, and was present at various 
successes of the English forces ; and on the death of that 
nobleman, he succeeded him in his command. In 1300, 
he is stated to have been sent to the pope, with sir LIugh 
Spencer, to complain of injuries received from the Scots ; 
and about the same time he was appointed lieutenant of 
Gascony. In the 29th Edward I., he was made governor 
of Corfe castle; and in the 31st of that king, he was join- 
ed in a commission with the bishop of Winchester, to treat 
of peace between England and France. He was after- 
wards engaged in many transactions of importance and 
confidence ; and upon the death of the king, at Burgh, in 
Cumberland, the earl was one of the peers who attended 
him in his last moments, and received his solemn request 
to be faithful to his son, and not to allow Piers de Gaves- 
ton to return into England. The conduct of the earl seems 



THE MANOR, 27 

to have secured the confidence of the young monarch, for, 
upon his expedition towards Scotland in the 3rd and 4th 
years of his reign, the earl of Lincoln was constituted 
o-overnor of the realm during' his absence. His works of 
piety were proportionate to his extensive possessions, and, 
adopting this criterion of his religious sentiments, we may 
conclude that he was not behind his contemporaries in 
superstition or devotion. He closed a long and active ca* 
reer in 1312, at Lincoln's Inn^, in the suburbs of London, 
being then about sixty-three or sixty-four years of age ; 
and his body was buried in the eastern part of the new 
works of St. Paul's cathedral, between the chapel of our 
lady and that of St. Dunstan. He had issue by his wife, 
Edmund, John, and Alice. The two sons both died in 
childhood, the former being drowned at Denbigh castle, t 
in a deep well within a high tower called the red tower ; 
which was the reason his father never finished that castle. 
Dugdale has stated that Margaret, countess of Lincoln, 
was remarried to sir Walter Walrond ; but this is an error, 
as she died two years before the earl. There was a dole, 
at Lacock abbey, for the soul of the countess Margaret, on 
the feast of St. Cecilia. Henry de Lacy was seised, at his 
death, of several castles, manors, &c, in the counties of 
Stafford and Derby; and, by the courtesy of England, of 
the inheritance of his wife, and several other manors, &c, 
county of Bucks ; and the town and hamlet of Wimborne, 
Dorset. He also died seised of this manor held in chief 
of the king by knight's service, belonging to the earldom 
of Sarum, of the inheritance of Margaret de Long^espee ; 
the manor of Charlton, for life ; a rent of 40s. per annum, 
payable by the burgesses of Blandford, and the advowson 



* This celebrated Inn of Court is recorded to have been the town residence of the 
bishops of Chichester, from the reign of Henry III., till that of Henry VIII. It 
seems, however, to have been for a short time possessed by this Henry de Lacy, who. 
although the only earl of Lincoln who resided there, left it the name which it has ' 
permanently retained during the five subsequent centuries. The arms of Lacy on the 
gate-house in Chancery lane, were erected by fir Thomas Lovell, together with his 
own, 1518. 



88 



THE MANOR, 



of that church ; the pleas and perquisites of the hundred 
of Badbury ; the hundred of Cockdene ; the manor of 
Kingston Lacy; 20s. rent in Wimbourne: also these 
knight's fees: Hugh le Despenser held of him one knight's 
fee and a half, in Winterbourne Houghton ; Alan Pluke- 
net, one in Kingston ; John de Montealto, one in Cane^ 
ford; Drogo de Bardolf, Andrew Peveral, William de 
Horsington, one fee in Liscet, [Lytchett Minster.] He 
also held the manor of Canford, where is a capital mes- 
suage and garden, cum aiasamentis domorum, yearly 
value 6s. 8d. In the same are 120 acres of arable, yearly 
value 20s. at 2d. per acre ; 40 acres falcabilium, yearly 
value 6s. 8d. at 2d. per acre ; a separate pasture, yearly 
value 20s. ; three parks, from which nullus proficuus pro 
feris, &c, yearly value 60s. ; a dove-house [columbura,~\ 
yearly value 3s. ; and a watermill, yearly value 30s. ; in 
all £7 19s. 8d. There are freeholders who pay a rent of 
assize, of 42s. 5d. quarterly ; 26 copyholders, [custumarii] 
each of whom holds one messuage and half a virgate of 
land, and who pay yearly 48s. at the said term, quarterly, 
by equal portions ; their services valued at 8s. Also eight 
cotarii, each of whom holds one messuage, cum curtellegio, 
and who pay at usual terms 8s. per annum, in all 100s. 
At La Pole, there are free burghers, at the yearly rent of 
£8 13s. 4d., paid at Christmas, Midsummer, and Michael- 
mas, belonging to the said manor ; total £46 0s. 8d.3fc 

[Plantagenet.] — Alice, the sole daughter of the 
above, and the heiress of two great families, was, in 1291, 
at nine years of age, given in marriage to the potent nephew 
of Edward I., Thomas, earl of Lancaster, Leicester, and 
Derby, who, by this alliance, added to those three earldoms 
a title or two more, — Salisbury and Lincoln. This Plan- 
tagenet, who was the son of Edmund, earl of Lancaster, 

♦ The figures above are the same as appear on the original escheat ; but the calcula- 
tions are somewhat unaccountable. 



THE MANOR. 29 

the younger son of king Henry IIL, who died 24th Ed- 
ward I., bore a very prominent part in the troubles of 
that period. He was generally upon ill terms with the 
king, being always at the head of the opposition to his 
majesty's favourites, Ga vest on and the Spencers. At last, 
provoked by their insolence, he, with a great number 
of the powerful barons, took arms against them; but 
on an engagement at Boroughbridge, in Yorkshire, with 
the forces of the king, who supported his favourites, Lan- 
caster was taken prisoner, carried to an eminence near his 
own castle of Pontefract, and by order of the king behead- 
ed there, 6th Edward II. All the actions of this nobleman 
are so well known as constituting a leading feature in the 
history of the kingdom, during that period, that it would 
be useless here to enter into detail. His public conduct 
sufficiently discovers the violence and turbulence of his 
character; his private deportment appears not to have been 
innocent; and his hypocritical devotions, by which he 
gained the favour of the monks and populace, will be re- 
garded rather as an aggravation than an alleviation of his 
guilt. Yet, notwithstanding his character was so dubious, 
and that he was accused by some of adultery, cruelty, and 
injustice, the common people reputed him a saint, and 
miracles are reported to have been done at his tomb, in 
the abbey of Pontefract, where he was buried. 

His marriage had previously terminated unfortunately ; 
for, in 1317, the countess Alice, who had borne him no 
children, being at Canford, which had been the scene of 
her grandmother's alleged rape before mentioned, she was 
violently taken thence by a knight of the family of John, 
earl of Warren, and carried in great state, in despite of her 
husband, to the said earl of Warren, then at his castle at 
Reigate, in Surrey. In their passage through the woods 
between Alton and Farnham, her conductors, discerning 
the streamers and banners of some priests and people going 
in procession, supposed they were the earl of Lancaster, 



30 THE MANOR. 

or some of his friends, coming to rescue her, and fled, 
leaving' her alone ; but, perceiving their mistake, returned, 
and with them a person of very low stature, lame, and 
hunchbacked, called Richard de St. Martin, who challenged 
her for his wife, confidently affirming a pre-contract, which 
she denied not. Whereupon he claimed the earldoms of 
Lincoln and Salisbury in her right, and brought an action 
in Westminster Hall. This outrage being committed with 
the consent of the king, is said to have widened the breach 
between him and the earl of Lancaster, exasperating the 
latter to take up arms as against the favourites. After the 
death of her husband, the countess, then twenty-eight years 
of age, received livery of her dower, 16th Edward II. ; 
and the same year surrendered to the king her right in the 
manor of Canford, and several others in the counties of 
Wilts and Somerset. 18th Edward II. she married Eubolo 
le Strange, a younger son of John Baron le Strange, of 
Knockyn, Shropshire, the fourth of that name, made knight 
of the Batii, 19th Edward II. In consequence of his mar- 
riage he had the title of earl of Lincoln attributed to him, 
and the £20 per annum in lieu of the third penny of that 
county ; and he was also summoned to Parliament (as a 
baron) from 1326, to his death, in 1335. He died in Scot- 
land, about Michaelmas, 1335, from the fatigues of the 
campaign of that year; and his body was brought for 
interment to the abbey church of Barling, Lincolnshire. 
Before the 8th of July in the following year, the countess 
Alice had taken a third husband, one Hugh de Fresnes, a 
knight of Artois ; who, at that date, obtained livery of the 
castle of Buelt in Wales, which had been previously granted 
to Eubolo le Strange. He also was summoned to Parlia- 
ment on the 29th November and 14th January following, 
but died in the month of December, between those two 
summonses, likewise in Scotland, at St. John's town, now 
Perth. After these unfortunate marriages, the countess 
Alice survived thirteen rears a widow. Her estates must 



THE MANOR. 31 

have been very large, as, after the surrender as above, 
the remainder of it amounted to 3000 marks per annum. 
A reversionary grant of the manor of Canford, and others, 
was subsequently made to her, as below, but she never 
again enjoyed possession. She died without issue, October 
2, 1348, in the 67th year of her age, and was buried in the 
church of Barling, by the side of her second husband, 
Eubolo le Strange. With this lady, whose romantic life 
has been made the subject of a popular novel, terminated 
the blood of the Lacies, and the elder line of the Longes- 
pees. 

[De Spencer.]] — When the countess Alice, as above, 
16th Edward II. surrendered this manor to the king, he 
granted it to Hugh de Spencer, his favourite, against 
whom the hostility of the revolting barons was mainly 
directed. They ultimately succeeded in their designs, and 
preferred a bill of attainder against him, in which they com- 
pelled the king to acquiesce. On this attainder, this manor, 
with other possessions, came to the crown. 

[Warden.]— 1st Edward III, the king granted it to 
John, earl of Warren and Surrey, and Johanna, his 
wife, for their lives ; and in the 16th year of his reign, the 
king made a reversionary grant of it to Alice, countess of 
Lincoln and Salisbury, for her life ; but she seems not to 
to have lived long enough to enjoy its possession, as she 
was not possessed of it, either at her death, or for many 
years before ; and 20th Edward III., the earl of Warren 
held two knight's fees at Canford and Kyngeston, which 
the earl of Lincoln formerly held. At his death, 21st Ed- 
ward III., it is found, in the Inquisitiones post mortem, that 
he held this manor as parcel of the earldom of Surrey, 
for term of life, jointly with Joan de Baar, his wife, by 
grant of king Edward III. It is stated that the reversion 
belongs to William, son and heir of William Monteacutc, 



32 THE MANOR. 

late earl of Sarum, held of the king in chief, by service of 
two knight's fees; and that there is a hundred called 
Cokedene, and qucedam custuma, at le Pole ; also the 
manor of Shapwick, and Kinstanton Park. Joan, the wife 
of the earl of Warren, though divorced, was possessed of 
this manor, the hundred of Cokedene, and the customs of 
Poole, when she died, 35th Edward III. The grant in re- 
version of this manor with its appurtenances, and other 
estates to William Montacute was made 2nd Edward III. 

[Mont acute.] — The surname of this family was an- 
ciently written in Latin ' de Monte Acuto, 9 and in old 
English 'Monteacute;' butthe original name was * Montagu,' 
as since written, and denominated from the town of Mon- 
tagu or Montaigue, in Normandy. Drogo de Monteacute, 
so styled in Domesday Book, came over with the conque- 
ror, in the retinue of Robert, earl of Moreton, half brother 
to the conqueror. Under this earl, Drogo held one hide 
of land in Bishopston, and the manors of Sutton, Shipton, 
and Stoke, all in the county of Somerset, and he also held 
of the king", the manor of Knolle, in the same countv. 
This Drogo left issue, William, his heir ; whose successor 
Richard, paid £20 into the king's exchequer for the an- 
cient pleas, in 2nd Henry II. ; and in 7th Henry II., 20 
marks for the knight's fees he then held, upon the collec- 
tion of scutate at that time levied. — To this Richard sue- 
ceeded his son, Dru or Drogo de Monteacute, who had 
the appellation of young Dru, in 12th Henry II, when, on 
the aid demanded for the marriage of the king's daughter, 
he certified his knight's fees in Somerset and Dorset to be 
nine and a half, and one third de veteri feqffamento, and 
one de novo, besides one whereof he was dispossessed by 
Henry Lovell ; for all which, in 14th Henry II., he paid 
ten marks. By his wife Aliva, daughter of Allan Bassett, 
baron of Wycombe, Bucks, and who survived him, he 
had a son, William de Montacute. 6th Richard I., on the 



THE MANOR. 33 

collection of the scutage for the king's redemption, this 
William paid for knights' fees in Somersetshire £6 Is. 8d. ; 
and in Devonshire 6s. 6d. 1st John, he gave £100 to the 
king* for liverv of the hundreds of Chaldesei and Piddleton. 
7th John, he executed the office of sheriff for the counties 
of Dorset and Somerset ; as he did likewise in the two next 
ensuing years ; none but persons of the greatest note dbeing 
in those days appointed. 17th John, being one of the chief 
of the rebellious barons, the king gave to Ralph de Ralegh, 
all his lands in the counties of Somerset and Dorset, except 
Cheldesey, which he had bestowed on William deBriwere. 
He died shortly after, for in 1st Henry 111., the king grant- 
ed the wardship of his lands and heir — with the benefit of 
his marriage, to Allen Basset, of Wycombe, Bucks. The 
lands of the said heir, who was William, son of another 
Dru de Montacute, in 17th Henry III., were seized by vir- 
tue of the king's precept, because he repaired not to court 
at Whitsuntide, to receive the dignity of knighthood, as 
he was required to do. But, the next year, the sheriff of 
Dorset and Somerset was commanded to make livery of 
them to him, on his doing homage. He died 31st Henry 
HI., and was succeeded by his son William, who, 38th 
Henry III., attended the king into Gascoigne, against 
Alphonso X., king of Castile, who had usurped that pro- 
vince. 42nd Henry III., he attended the king in an expe- 
dition into Wales. To this William and Bertha, his wife, 
John de la Linde, by deed without date, grants the manor 
of Bromefield, Wilts. Their son and heir, Simon, in 1277, 
(6th Edward I.,) being seised of the barony of Shipton 
Montacute, Somerset, was summoned to attend the king on 
another expedition into Wales, and, 10th Edward I., on a 
similar occasion. 18th Edward I. he obtained a confirma- 
tory grant from the king, of the manors of Shipton Monta- 
cute, Jerlington, Chedeseye, Gothulee, Knolie, Thulbere, 
and the More, all in Somerset ; and of the manor of Swere, 
with £20 rent in Puddietune, £20 rent in Lullwrich, 



34 THE MANOR. 

[Lull worth,] 10s. rent in Blakemore, with the woods in 
Blakemore, co. Dorset ; and of the manors of Woneford, 
co. Devon ; Aston-Clinton, co. Bucks ; and Kersington, co. 
Oxon ; with remainder to his sons, William and Simon, and 
the heirs of their bodies. 22nd and 25th Edward II., he 
accompanied the king" in two expeditions to Gascoigne ; and 
was also engaged in the latter year in the Scottish wars. 
27th Edward I., he was constituted governor of Corfe 
castle. 35th Edward I., he was again in the wars in Scot- 
land ; and, 2nd Edward II., was made governor of Beau- 
maris castle, in the isle of Anglesea. 4th Edward II., he 
was admiral of the king's fleet. 7th Edward II., he 
obtained the king's license to make a castle of his house, 
at Yerdlington, Somerset. He was baron of Shipton 
Montacute, in Somersetshire, bj descent ; and, having been 
summoned to Parliament from 28th Edward I. to 8th Ed- 
ward II., inclusive, died soon after. He married Aufricia, 
daughter and heir of Fergusius, king of the isle of Man, 
which he possessed in her right, and mortgaged it for seven 
years to Anthony Bek, bishop of Durham ; but it was re- 
covered 16th Edward III., and his posterity held it till 
William, earl of Salisbury, sold it, 16th Richard II., to 
lord Scrope, though he still retained the title of king of 
Man. By her he had two sons, and was succeeded by the 
eldest, William, who was trained to the public service 
from his youth. 1303, 32nd Edward I., he was at the ta- 
king of the castle of Stirling. 34th Edward I., he was 
the governor of Corfe castle, and had the custody of Wil- 
liam de Morreve, of Sandford, knight, one of the followers 
of Robert Bruce, taken in the Scottish war. The same 
year he received the honour of knighthood, by bathing 
and other ceremonies, with Prince Edward. He then 
again attended the king in the Scottish wars. 4th Edward 
II., he was made governor of the castle of Berkhamstead, 
Herts. 11th Edward II., he had a license to make a castle 
of his house, at Kersyngton, Oxon, and was constituted 



THE MANOR. 35 

seneschal of the duchy of Acquitaine. The same year he 
was constituted seneschal of Gascoigne, and governor of 
the isle of Oleron. He was summoned to Parliament, 11th 
and 12th Edward II., and died the following year, in 
Gascoigne, leaving issue, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter 
of sir Peter de Montfort, of Beaudesert, county of War- 
wick; William, his son and heir, at that time 18 years 
of age, and several other sons and daughters. He was 
then seised of £20 yearly rent out of the manor of Puddle- 
ton, to be received of the prior of Christchurch Twyneham, 
£20 yearly rent out of the manor of West Lullworth, and 
a certain waste in the forest of Blakemore; also, lands, 
&c, in the vill of Swere, and the advowson of that church, 
with several knight's fees, all in the county of Dorset ; the 
manors of Aston-Clinton, co. Bucks; Karsington, co. Oxon; 
Saxlingham, co, Norfolk ; Schepton, Jerlington, Knolle, 
Sothule, and Dorleburg, co, Somerset ; Wynford, Fyneton, 
and Womboneford, co. Devon : John de Whitfield held 
of him the manor of Loveford, for one-fourth of a knight's 
fee; Gates de Blakemore held of him one carucate of 
land ; Henry de Talbot, one-eighth of a fee in Newton, in 
Purbeck ; John de la Tour, one-eighth of a fee in Swere ; 
William Quarrel, one-eighth of a fee in ditto. 

His son and heir, William, lord Montacute, the year 
after his father's death, obtained a grant from the king of 
the wardship of all his own lands, being then not full 19 
years of age ; and 16th Edward II., on doing homage, 
had livery of them. 19th Edward II., he was honoured 
with the dignity of knighthood; and 2nd Edward III., 
was engaged in the expedition against the Scots. He was 
conspicuous for his services against Mortimer, earl of 
March, whom he denounced to the king, at the Parlia- 
ment at Nottingham, 1330, and in whose apprehension 
he bore the principal part, for which he was liberally 
rewarded by the king, with the possessions of Mortimer, 
in North Wales, and a pension of £1000 per annum. He 



36 THE MANOR. 

obtained, moreover, a grant in tail, to himself and {Cathe- 
rine, his wife, of the castle of Sherborne, with the customs 
of beer at that place ; as also of the manor of Swynestone, 
in the Isle of Wight; and the castle of Christchurch 
Twyneham, with the borough ; the manor of Westoure, 
hundred of Christchurch, and manor of Ringwood, co. 
Southampton ; of the manor of Cronham, co. Berks ; Ful- 
mere, co. Bucks; Catfourd and Levesham, co. Kent; 
with remainder to the king*, &c. He was also the same vear 
constituted governor of the castles of Sherborne and Corfe, 
with the chace of Purbeck. These grants, with others, 
were chiefly bestowed on him for his services in the Scot- 
tish wars, he being the principal commander of the forces 
sent by Edward III., to make reprisals on the Scots for the 
outrages they had committed on the marches of England. 
8th Edward 111., he was appointed governor of the isles of 
Guernsey, Jersey, Sark, and Alderney. 10 Edward III., 
on accompanying the king into Scotland, he was specially 
honoured by his majesty, and had grants of the manors of 
Wodeton, Frome Whitfield, and Marshwode, with the 
advowsons of the churches. Also the manor of Pole, 
(Wilts,) with the advowson of the church, after the death 
of Robert le Fitz-paine, and Ela, his wife, without issue; 
and other lands, &c, of the said Robert and Ela, in Dorset, 
Somerset, and Wilts, part of the possessions of John Mal- 
travers, junr., attainted, paying to the king, his heirs, and 
successors, upon Christmas day, a sword of 3s. 4d. price, 
for all services. During the wars in Scotland, he lost one 
of his eyes. The same year, he was made constable of the 
tower of London, admiral of the cinque ports, and of all 
other parts and places from the mouth of the Thames west- 
ward. For his extraordinary services, he was, in a full 
Parliament held at Westminster, advanced to the title and 
dignity of earl of Salisbury, 16th March 1336-7, with a 
grant of the yearly rent of £20 out of the profits of the 
comity of Wilts, to him and his heirs ; also grants in rever- 



?HE MANOR. 37 

sion, after the death of John Warren, earl of Surry, and 
Joan, his wife, of the manor of Canford and the burgh of 
Poole, and other manors in Wilts and Somerset, part of the 
possessions of Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln. 12th Ed- 
ward III., he had a grant for life of the office of earl 
marshall of England. Sept. 16, 1339, the king granted to 
him and his heirs, the advowson of the priory of Montacute, 
which had been founded and endowed by his lordship's 
ancestors. In the wars with France, being left commander- 
in-chief of the forces in Flanders, his lordship and the earl 
of Suffolk were taken prisoners, and conveyed with ignominy 
to Paris, where the French king" ordered them to be put to 
death ; and they only escaped the execution of this sentence, 
through the influence of the king of Bohemia. The earl 
of Salisbury was exchanged on the signature of the next 
truce. 14th Edward III., the king, in consideration of his 
sufferings, granted him the manor of Martock, Somerset; 
and, in the following year, he had a confirmation of the 
manors granted 10th Edward IIL, with the addition of that 
of Worth. The same year, he was again sent against the 
ScotSy and having conquered the isle of xMan, was crowned 
king of that island. The next year, he went to France, in 
the expedition in favour of the countess de Montfort. In 
1343, the earls of Salisbury and Derby were appointed am- 
bassadors from the king to Alphonso, king of Castile. He 
died Jan. 30, 1343-4, of a fever, brought on by bruises and 
over-exertion, at a tournament at Windsor, on the 19th of 
that month, and was buried either in the Whitefriars, Lon- 
don, as is alleged by Brooks ; or, as Collins thinks more 
probable, at Bisliam priory, Berks. He died seised of the 
manors, &c, mentioned in the grants above recited ; also, 
the manor of Swere ; the hamlet of Blakemore, and 100 
acres of land called Newland there, paying 10s. rent ; the 
hundred of Puddletown ; a rent out of the manor of West 
Lullworth ; one fee in Berwick and Motburg ; £20 rent in 
the manor of Puddletown ; a fourth of a fee in Loveford ; 



38 THE MANT)R* 

a sixth of a fee in Newton in Purbeck ; and an eighth of a 
fee in Swere, and the advowson of that church. Katherine 
his wife had, for her dower, the manor of Swere and ham- 
let of Blakemore ; the manor and hundred of Puddletown, 
and £25 rent out of it ; £6 Os. 7d. yearly of the abbot of 
Bindon, for the manor of West Lullworth, &c. She died 
23rd Edward III. He left two sons, William, who suc- 
ceeded him in his estates and title, and John. 

William, second earl of Salisbury, was born June 25, 
1328 ; and on May 24, 20th Edward III., the wardship of 
his body was committed to John de Somerton, and Thomas 
Waryn ; and being within age, he attended the king, 1346, 
in the expedition then made into France. On landing at 
La Hogue, in Normandy, he received the honour of knight- 
hood, with Edward, prince of Wales ; and was at the siege 
of Caen, and took a prominent part in the battle of Creci, 
the same year. In the 21st and 22nd Edward III., he was 
again employed in the wars of France ; and in the 23rd of 
that monarch, (though not then of full age,) in recom- 
pence of the valiant actions that had been performed by 
him, had such favour from the king, that he obtained livery 
of the reversion of all the lands of his inheritance. Also, 
before the end of that year, making proof of his age, upon 
the death of Katherine, his mother, he had livery of the 
manors of Sweyneston and Brighteston, in the Isle of 
Wight, which she held for the term of her life. On the 
institution of the order of the garter, April 23, 1349, he 
was the seventh knight elected ; and, August 29, 1350, he 
was in the sea-fight against the Spaniards, near Winchelsea, 
where the king commanded in person. In the 29th Ed- 
ward III., on the duchy of Aquitaine being assigned to 
prince Edward, this earl attended him in those parts. In 
1356, he commanded the rear of the English army in the 
famous battle of Poictiers, fought on Sept. 19; and it is 
recorded that, in the heat of that fight, he strove with the 
earl of Warwick, which of them should most bedew the 



THE MANOR. 30 

land with French blood. It is certain, that the English 
rear, under this earl, came to sustain the first main stress of 
the battle, and wholly discomfitted those whom they encoun- 
tered, slaying- the lord Clermont, the French marshal ; and 
of 3000 Scots, who were in his battalia, few escaped. 
Afterwards the earl fought, with the greatest magnanimity, 
against those forces that were headed bv John, kin£ of 
France, in person ; and, totally defeating them, that mon- 
arch and Philip his fourth son were taken prisoners. The 
earl continued in France in the 31st, 33rd, and 34th Ed- 
ward 111. In 1369, he was the chief of those named by 
the king, to accompany his son, John of Gaunt, duke of 
Lancaster, in his voyage to France, against whom the 
duke of Burgundy was sent with so great an army, that 
the English were but as a handful to them ; yet he could 
obtain no advantage. In 1373, on a rumour that Jevan, 
prince of Wales, son of prince Aymon, was upon the En- 
glish coasts with 600 men, designing to land, he was 
appointed to guard the seas, and was retained by indenture 
to serve the king, with no less than 300 men of arms, 
of whom 20 besides himself were knights, and the others 
esquires ; as also with 300 archers. This fleet made direct- 
ly for the port of St. Malo, in Brctagne, where they burnt 
seven huge Spanish carracks. Thence sailing to Brest, he 
relieved the garrison (where sir Robert Knowles was be- 
sieged,) with men and provisions, and returned to his ships 
to keep the marches and frontiers on the sea coasts. In 
48th Edward III., he was one of the ambassadors sent to 
Bruges to treat of peace, with the plenipotentiaries of 
Charles V,, king of France. The following year, he was 
constituted admiral of the king's fleet, from the mouth of 
the river Thames to the westward parts ; and in 51st Ed- 
ward III., he was one of the commissioners for arraying all 
able men from 16 to 60 vears of a<re in the count v of Dor- 
set, to withstand the attempts of the French, then threaten- 
In the 1st Richard II., he was assigned 



40 THE MANOR. 

to secure the coasts of Southampton and Dorset, against 
the invasions of the French ; and the kins commanded all 
his liege subjects, in the said counties, to be obedient and 
assisting- to him in all things that he thought necesssary or 
convenient for their defence. He was the same year re- 
tained by indenture to serve the king in his wars beyond 
the seas, under the conduct of John of Gaunt, duke of 
Lancaster. But the duke not adventuring, the earl of 
Salisbury put to sea, and took Cherbourg. In the follow- 
ing year, he was constituted governor of Calais. In 1381, 
he was sent to conduct Anne of Luxemburgh on her pro- 
gress to this country, to be married to Richard II. In the 
7th Richard II., he attended the king into Scotland. Two 
years afterwards, the custody of the isle of Wight, and 
castle of Carisbrook, with the whole demesne thereunto 
belonging, was granted to him for life. In 13th Richard 
II., he was again employed in the king's service, in the 
marches of Calais ; and, in 15th Richard II., constitu- 
ted one of the commissioners to treat of peace with the 
French. He contracted marriage with Joan, commonly 
called "the fair maid of Kent," daughter of Edmund 
Plantagenet, earl of Kent, (third son of king Edward I.,) 
but sir Thomas Holland, earl of Kent, in his petition to 
pope Clement VI., alleging a precontract and that the earl 
unjustly withheld her from him, the pope gave judgment 
against the earl of Salisbury ; who, complying therewith, 
married another noble lady, Elizabeth/ eldest daughter, 
and at length one of the co-heirs of John, lord Mohun, 
of Dunster, (one of the first knights of the garter,) and 
by her had William, his only son and heir, unfortunately 
slain at Windsor, in 6th Richard II., by his own hand in 
tilting. He died June 3, 21st Richard II., and was buried 
at Bisham abbey. At his death he was seised of the 
manor of Canford and burgh of Poole ; Puddletown hun- 
dred and manor, and £20 rent there ; the manor of West 
Lullworth, and several fees belonging to the manor of 



THE MANOR. 41 

Canford ; the hundred of Cokedean ; the manor of Blake- 
more, called New-lond, with the wood of Blakcmore. 
Elizabeth his wife held as dower, at her death, 2nd 
Henry V., £20 rent in Puddletown ; a third of the manor 
of Swere ; half a fee in Hinton and Esseton juxta Winter- 
bourne; half a fee in Craford; a fee in Silton juxta 
Gillingham; a fee in Child-Okeford ; half a fee in 
Milton juxta Gillingham ; a fourth of a fee in East and 
West Chickerell ; a fourth of a fee in Langton juxta 
Abbotsbury and Winterbourne Herring'sione ; one fee 
in Shipton Maureward juxta Bridport ; half a fee in 
Bardolveston juxta Puddleton ; half a fee in Pymore; a 
sixth of a fee in Pudelton and Bilsey ; and one fee in King- 
ston juxta Dorchester. The reversion is stated to belong 
to Thomas, earl of Sarum, and his heirs male ; and that the 
said fees belong to the manor of Canford, of which he is 
seised. This William granted, in the year 1371, a charter 
to the burgesses of the borough of Poole, confirming 1 that 
of William Longespee, and conceding other important 
privileges. He was succeeded by his nephew, 

John, the third earl of this family, who was son of sir 
John de Montacute, knight, brother of the above earl. He 
had been summoned to Parliament as a baron, from 16th 
Richard II., to the death of his uncle, whom he succeeded 
in title and estate. He was very early engaged in the ser- 
vice of his country, and appears to have been a warrior of 
considerable valour. In 21st Richard II., doino- his 
homage, he had livery of all the lands descended to him 
from his uncle. He obtained from the king, a grant to 
himself and heirs male, of many manors, &c, then in the 
king's hands by the attainder of Thomas de Beauchamp, 
earl of Warwick. During the troubles of that period, he 
seems to have been a steady partizan of Richard IL In 
the 22nd year of that monarch's reign, the earl of Salisbury 
was constituted marshal of England. He was soon after 
sent to France, on a special mission from the king, to 



42 THE >UNOR. 

endeavour to break a treaty of marriage then on foot, 
between the duke of Hereford, (afterwards Henry IV.) 
and the daughter of the duke of Berri, in which he suc- 
ceeded. For this he was disgraced on the deposition of 
Hichard, and, on the coronation of Henry IV., was thrown 
into prison : the popular voice was so loud against him, 
that he barely escaped execution, on the plea that what he 
did was by the king's commandment. He was set at liberty 
soon after, but speedily became involved in a conspiracy 
against the king, in which he was detected, and he and the 
earl of Kent were taken at Cirencester, and executed there 
the next day, Jan. 5, 1400, by order of the mayor. His 
body was buried in the abbey at that place, and there rested 
until 8th Henry V., when, on the petition of his widow, the 
king gave leave to have it removed to Bisham. He was 
one of the chief of the Lollards, and his zeal against the 
idolatrous ceremonials of popery was so great, that we are 
told " thai he caused all the images which had been set up 
in the chapel, at Shenele, by his wife's former husbands, 
to be taken down and thrown in obscure places ; only the 
image of St. Catherine, in regard that many did affect it, 
he gave leave that it should stand in his bakehouse." On 
his execution, he was attainted, and all his lands forfeited : 
the king (a. r. 2,) uniting to the duchy of Lancaster ; the 
castle and town of Donington, co. Leicester; the wapen- 
take of Risley, co. Derby ; the wapentake of Alerton, co. 
Nottingham ; the manor of Gretham, with lands in Stayn- 
worth ; the manors of Horblinge, Segbroke, and Thorley, 
co. Lincoln ; the manor of Canford and the town of Poole, 
and certain other tenements belonging to the said manor of 
Canford, co. Dorset; and the manors of Winterbourne 
and Ambresbury, co. Wilts ; which belonged to Thomas, 
earl of Lancaster, the king's ancestor, and to which, Henry, 
brother of the said Thomas, was restored, though judg- 
ment was not executed, and which came to the king by 
right, as cousin and heir to the said carl Thomas, so that 



THE 3IAN0R. 43 

the said judgment was executed with the liberties of the 
said duchv. Yet the kino* considering 1 that the earl of 

O 7 o 

Salisbury had sold great part of his wife's inheritance, and 
the low state of her and her children on his attainder, 
granted her some manors in Devon, for the term of her 
life. It was found by inquisition, 10th Henry IV., that 
this earl died seised in fee tail of this manor and the fees 
belonoino" to it, held of the kin^ in chief bv knight's 
service ; the hundred of Cockdene ; the manor and advow- 
son of Swere ; £20 rent in Lullworth ; 10s. rent in Blake- 
more ; the manor of Blakemere, called Newland ; half a 
fee in Winterbourne Maurward extra Bere ; half a fee in 
Moureback ; and half a fee in Fleet ; all which belong to 
the honour of the castle and manor of Christchurch : also, 
half a fee in Kinstanton ; one in Plumbere ; one in Mel- 
bury-Bubbe ; one in Wraxhall and Maperton ; one in 
Kingston Plukenet ; two in Winterbourne Series and 
Houghton ; one in Melburv Osmond and Woodyate ; one 
in Tollard; one in Magna Crawfurd; one in Tore and 
Luveford juxta Piddleton ; one in Swanywhyche ; half a 
fee in Nutford ; one in Woodcote ; and that he lately held 
one in Cost on. All these belonged to the manor of 
Caneford. He held also the advowson of the priory of 
Monteacute, and of the cells of Holme, &c, belonging to 
it, and of £120 rent yearly, to be received out of the said 
priory and cells. 

His son, Thomas, the fourth earl of his name, who was 
12 years of age at his father's decease, became one of the 
greatest heroes of the age ; and our histories are full of 
his noble acts and great achievements in France, where he 
gained immortal honour. In 2nd Henry IV., the king, 
" having compassion on his youth, and the low estate he 
was in by the attainder of his father," granted him the 
manor of Croxham, co. Berks ; Warblington, More, and 
Humton, co. Southampton ; Knolle, co. Somerset ; Powor- 
thy, Okeford, and St. Mary-Cliffe, co. Devon, (part of 



44 THE MANOR. 

liis father's lands) to enjoy till he should accomplish his 
full age; and the next year, in augmentation thereto, 
granted him the manor of Watyngwell, in the Isleof Wight. 
He strove to obtain a reversal of his father's attainder, but 
was unable to effect it ; and his possession of the paternal 
estates was much abridged, though he succeeded in obtain- 
ing a grant of the manor of Canford and that of Swyre, 
and the advowson there, and 10s. rent in Blakemore. He 
came into the possession of a large estate, however, by his 
first wife, Eleanor, daughter of Thomas, earl of Kent. 
He early commenced his illustrious career ; and in the 2nd 
Henry V. was joined ambassador with the bishops of Dur- 
ham and Norwich, to settle peace between the English and 
French, and to demand in marriage the lady Catherine, 
daughter of Charles VI., the French king. That embassay 
failed. In 1416, he was engaged with the duke of Bed- 
ford, the king's brother, and other nobles, in a sea-fight, 
off the river Seine* where they obtained an entire victory 
over the French fleet. 5th Henry V., he embarked with 
the king and a puissant army at Portsmouth ; and, on 
landing in France, took the castle of D'Anvillers, which 
was subsequently granted to him. He was a principal 
commander at the siegfe of Caen, and afterwards took 
Falaise. He bore a conspicuous part through the whole 
of these campaigns, and performed many valiant exploits. 
He was one of the ambassadors on the successful renewal 
of the treaty, by which the king and the princess Catherine 
were married. 2nd Henry VL, he was constituted general 
of the army in France* and continued a career of unexam- 
pled success, valour, and victory. Soon after these great 
successes, he returned to England, and Was not again 
employed till Cth Henry VL, occasioned by a difference 
between him and the duke of Burgundy? arising, accord- 
ing to Stowe, from some attentions paid by the duke to 
the earl's lady. In that year, however, he was prevailed 
on again to take the command of the army, soon after 



THE MANOR* 45 

Which he laid siege to the city of Orleans, then defended 
by the celebrated Joan of Arc ; and on the forty-ninth day 
of the siege, as he was examining the accesses to the city, 
he was fired at with such precision, and wounded in 
the face so desperately, that he expired, after lingering 
eight days, on Nov. 3, 1428. His body was conveyed to 
England with great pomp and solemnity, and buried at 
Bisham, in Berkshire. Our old historians unanimously 
agree that he was the life of the war in those parts ; and 
that the death of this gallant soldier occasioned a serious 
reverse to the English arms. He- was almost idolized by 
his comrades for his valour and the magnanimity which 
characterized his demeanour ; and, beyond the chronicled 
history of the days in which he lived and triumphed, his 
name has been immortalised in the strains of the Avonian 
bard, who speaks of him as the " mirror of all martial 
men," "framed of the firm truth of valour;" and, in the 
passionate lament over his wounded body, attributed to his 
friend and companion in arms, the faithful Talbot, his 
character and military prowess are thus briefly summed 
up: — 

" In thirteen battles Salisbury o'ercame, 
Henry the Fifth he first trained to the wars ; 
Whilst any trump did sound, or drum struck up, 
His sword did ne'er leave striking in the field." 

Hen. VI., act 1., sc. 4. 

This celebrated earl, who was also styled lord of Mon- 
thermer, granted a charter of confirmation to the burgesses 
of Poole, in the year 1410-11. His second wife was Alice, 
daughter of Thomas Chaucer, esq., widow of sir John 
Phillips. He left issue, Alice, who married Richard Ne- 
ville, eldest son of Ralph, first earl of Northumberland. 
His wife Alice survived him, and was endowed of the third 
part of the manor of Canford, and continued to enjoy it 
until the 25th Henry VI. She had previously been remar- 
ried to William de la Pole, earl of Suffolk ; and, in that 
year exchanged the said third part, as appears by charter 



4C THE MANOR. 

granted unto the said earl at his creation* The other two 
parts of the manor, &c», descended to the late earl's 
brother, 

Richard Montacute, who we find, on his death, to 
have been seised, in fee tail, to him and his heirs male, of 
two parts of this manor^ tenements in Fulhalding, and most 
of the knights' fees before mentioned, which belonged to 
this manor. He died without issue; Alice, the wife of 
Richard Neville, being his kinswoman and heir. On his 
death, Canford came to the crown. 

After the death of Richard Montacute, this manor and 
hundred were granted to relations and favourites of several 
princes. 11th Henry VI., it was granted to 

John, duke of Bedford. This powerful nobleman 
was the third son of Henry IV., by his first wife, Mary de 
Bohun, daughter and co-heir of the earl of Hereford. He 
was accordingly brother to Henry V., and uncle to Henry 
VI.; and his family connections, his civil and military 
distinction, and his unblemished character, made his name 
prominent in the age which he dignified and adorned. 
From the time in which he first appeared on the arena of 
politics, scarcely a transaction appears to have been 
undertaken in connection with the state of England, in 
which his opinion and advice were not regarded as of 
weighty importance. The glorious achievements of his 
military career in the wars with France, and his conduct 
as regent during the early portion of the reign of his 
nephew, are matters of national history. With the whole 
power of England at his command, he, nevertheless, 
demeaned himself with such prudence and integrity, that, 
with the exception of his behaviour towards the Maid 
of Orleans, — and for which the spirit of his age may 
rather be held accountable, — no censure is attached to his 
memory. He is described to have been the most accom- 
plished prince of his time, and one whose experience, 



THE MANOR. 47 

prudence, valour, and generosity, qualified him for the 
hig-h offices he was called on to execute. At his death, 14th 
Henry VI. , he held in fee tail, to him and his heirs male, 
by. the gift of the king, in the 11th year of his reign, two 
parts of this manor and of the hundred of Cokeden, and 
the vill of Poole, with the reversion of the third part of 
the manor, hundred, and vill, which Alice, countess of 
Suffolk, late wife of Thomas, earl of Sarum, held for life. 
Also the priory or manor of Frampton, with its members, 
Burton, with a chapel and tithes there, Winterbourne 
Came, Bincomb, Cernel, Bettescoinbe, and Swanwiche ; 
the manor of Povington and Milborne Beke; and £18 
rent out of the manor of Porstock, of the gift of king 
Henry IV. He died without issue male, king Henry VI. 
being his kinsman and heir, to whom, accordingly, the 
estates reverted; and in the 17th year of his reign, this 
manor and the town of Poole were granted to 

Henry Beaufort, cardinal of England, and bishop of 
Winchester, his heirs and assigns. Cardinal Beaufort was 
one of the natural children of John of Gaunt, by Catherine 
Swinford, daughter of sir Payne Roet, alias Guyen, king- 
at arms, and widow of sir Otes Swinford, knight. Henry, 
with his two brothers and a sister, were legitimated, by act 
of Parliament, on the marriage of their parents, in 1306. 
Henry was made bishop of Winchester in 1405, and was 
also cardinal and lord chancellor. His name is very con- 
spicuous in all the state transactions of the period in which 
he lived. During the minority of Henry VI., to whom 
the cardinal was great uncle, the person and education of 
the infant prince were entrusted to him. The cardinal, 
who died in the 25th Henry VI., had previously conveyed 
this manor, &c, to 

John, duke of Somerset, He was great grandson of 
John of Gaunt, and the third earl of Somerset, in which, 
dignity he succeeded his father. In 1443, he was created 
duke of Somerset and carl of Kendal, and constituted 



48 THE MANOR. 

lieutenant and captain-general of Aquitaine, as also of the 
whole realm of France, and duchy of Normandy. His 
grace died on May 27, 1444, and was buried at Wimborne 
Minster ; in which church is an altar tomb of grey mar- 
ble, erected to the memory of the duke and his wife, by 
their sole daughter Margaret. On each side of the tomb 
are five blank shields, each enclosed in a quatrefoil ; those 
on the south side have been formerly covered with plates 
of armorial bearings, since stripped off by the rapacity or 
misjudging zeal of later days. On the tomb are the 
recumbent effigies of the duke and duchess. The male 
figure is in rich and curious armour, a pointed helmet 
with a coronet on his head, a collar of SS3£ round his 
neck, a dagger on his right side, and on his left a sword, 
of which the hilt alone remains, inscribed with the letters 
!♦ !}♦ C.-f" A garter is fastened round his knee ; his head 
is supported by two angels, and his feet by a lion ; his left 
hand holds the gauntlet on his breast, his right clasps 
that of his wife. She is attired in a long robe of state, 
with a veil and collar, a coronet on her head, which is 
supported also by two angels, and at her feet a gazelle ; in 
her left hand is a string of beads, a ring on her forefinger, 
two others on the second, and two on the third. There 
are no traces of any inscription ; but the soldier's helmet 
still hangs over his tomb. As the conveyance of this manor 
was made subsequently to the creation of John as duke, in 
1443, and as he died early in 1444, it must have taken 



* The collar of esse?, formed of links in resemblance of that letter, and still worn 
on certain occasions by our judges, is, by some persons, derived from the religious 
society of St. Simplicius, who was thrown into the Tiber with a chain round his 
neck, by Dioelesian. But the more learned agree that this collar was the badge of 
Henry and the Lancastrian party, in allusion to their watchword " souvenez vqus 
de moi," during their meditated overthrow of Richard II. 

+ The old manner of writing this symbol of our Saviour, which occurs in Greek 
manuscripts of the New Testament, thus, I H 0, with a dash over the middle 
letter, was merely an abbreviation of the word JESUS, the Greek E bearing the 
figure of the English H, and the ancient Greek or Smyrnese S, that of the English 
C. The Latins, however, interpreted it in their own characters to mean Jesus 
Hominum Consolator, or Savvator, and magnified the dash into a cross. 



THE MANOR. 49 

place in the former year. He died without issue male, 
and the manor descended to his brother and heir, 

Edmund, who was earl of Moreton, and created mar- 
quis of Dorset, June 24, 1443. In the 24th Henry VI., 
he was appointed regent of Normandy, and in the 26th of 
that reign, created second duke of Somerset. He took a 
conspicuous part in the troubles of that age ; and in the 
contests of the roses, he warmly espoused the cause of 
Lancaster, and became particularly obnoxious to the 
Yorkists. He was slain in the first battle of St. Albans, 
May 22, 1455, By his wife, Eleanor, second daughter 
and co-heir of Richard Beauchamp, earl of Warwick, 
the duke had four sons and five daughters. He died 
seised of this manor and the vill of Poole; and divers 
lands, &c,, in Cokedean and Poole ; the manor of Ryme, 
and the manor and castle of Corfe ; and several manors in 
Somerset. These possessions descended to his son and 
heir, 

Henry, who was then nineteen years of age. During 
his father's lifetime he had the title of earl of Moreton. 
He achieved, even in youth, many important victories in 
the French wars. In the 36th Henry VI., he was constitu- 
ted lieutenant and governor of the Isle of Wight and castle 
of Carisbrook, and the year after made governor of Calais. 
He also was a firm adherent of the Lancasters, and fought 
on their behalf at the battle of Hexham, after victory had 
alighted on the Yorkist forces. At that fight, he, with 
many other nobles, was taken prisoner, and soon after 
beheaded. After his death, 5th Edward IV., he was 
attainted; and, on his attainder, this manor, with other 
of his possessions, again reverted to the crown. 

In the 8th Edward IV., this manor, &c, were granted 
by the king to 

George, duke of Clarence. He was son of Richard, 
duke of York, who contended for the English crown with 

H 



50 THE MANOR. 

Henry VI., and brother of Edward IV., who succeeded in 
the designs of their father. On the accession of his 
brother, Clarence was received into the royal favour, and 
named to the lieutenancy of Ireland, and soon after invest- 
ed with great possessions, amongst which was this manor. 
For the subsequent career of this noble — his withdrawal 
from court through his connection with the powerful earl 
of Warwick, "Ihe setter-up and puller-down of kings," 
to whose daughter he was united in marriage — his alternate 
ruptures and reconciliations with his brother — and the 
varied part which he bore in the wars of the roses — the 
reader is referred to the more ample pages of our national 
historians. The " false, fleeting, perjured Clarence," 
was at length, in 1478, committed to the Tower on charges 
of treason ; and, on his trial before the peers, he was 
found guilty and received sentence of death. The king, 
however, professed himself averse to a public execu- 
tion of his brother ; and it was soon announced that the 
duke had died in the Tower. The manner of his death has 
never been ascertained ; but a report circulated at the time, 
and which tradition has since perpetuated, alleged him to 
have been drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine. The sins 
of the father do not appear in this case to have been visited 
upon the child ; and the possessions of the duke descended 
to his son, 

Edward Plantagenet. After the death of his father, 
the king sent for him, then a child, to court, and created 
him earl of Warwick, the title borne by his grandfather. 
The life of this ill-starred prince affords a melancholy 
instance of the uncertain tenure of human prosperity, the 
dangers of ennobled birth, and the miseries attendant upon 
a disputed throne and a domestic warfare. Born to the 
possession of great wealth, the heir of two powerful nobles, 
with the blood of royalty coursing in his veins, bred in the 
pomps of a splendid court, yet was he from boyhood, the 
victim of jealous and despotic oppression, the solitary 



THE MANOR. 51 

tenant of a prison, severed from the enjoyments of liberty 
and society. The fears of Richard III. had early con- 
signed him to confinement in the castle of Shcriff-Hutton, 
Yorkshire ; and Henry VII. no sooner ascended the throne 
than he transferred this young prince, then in his fifteenth 
year, to a place of greater security — the Tower. Here, 
though guilty of no crime but his birth, though no charge 
was alleged against him, he was kept in a strict seclusion 
that wasted his body and enfeebled his mind. The public, 
we are told, commiserated the lot of the innocent victim, 
who thus, to satisfy the ambition of others, was condemned 
to perpetual imprisonment from his childhood ; and the spot 
chosen for his confinement — a spot so lately stained with 
the blood of princes — was considered as an omen of his 
subsequent destiny. That destiny was at length fulfilled. 
The impostures of Simnel and Wulford, whose personations 
of the earl had troubled the realm, instigated Henry to the 
destruction of the object of his jealous care ; and Warwick 
therefore was, in 1499, arraigned for an attempt to escape 
from custody. To this charge he pleaded guilty : sentence 
was pronounced ; and Henry soon signed the warrant for 
the execution of the last legitimate descendant of the 
Plantagenets, whose pretensions could excite the jealousy 
of the house of Tudor. Warwick was beheaded on Tow- 
er-hill. The whole nation lamented his fate. When 
Warwick was committed to the tower by order of Henry, 
(a. r. 1, Jan. 23,) that monarch seized his possessions ; and 
in the same year he granted the manor of Canford and the 
vill of Poole, to his mother, 

Margaret, countess of Richmond, for her life. This 
lady was only daughter of John, the first duke of Somerset, 
mentioned above, and was married first to Edmund Tudor, 
earl of Richmond, who was son of Owen Tudor, by 
Catharine, dowager queen of Henry V. Of this marriage 
Henry VII. was born. She married, secondly sir Henry 



52 



THE MS NOR, 



Stafford, son of Humphrey, duke of Buckingham; and., 
thirdly, Thomas Stanley, afterwards earl of Derby. After 
the grant of this manor to her, she appears to have resided 
at Canford, and was the foundress of the free grammar 
school at the adjoining town of Wimborne, in the church of 
which, where the remains of her parents reposed, she 
founded and endowed a chapel. She died June 29, 1509, 
(1st Henry VIII.,) and was buried in the magnificent 
chapel erected by her son in Westminster abbey* 

From the 1st to the 17th Henry VIII., this manor appears 
to have been possessed by the crown ; and in the latter year 
the king, by letters patent, confirmed by an act of Parlia- 
ment, in the 22nd year of his reign, granted the manor of 
Canford and Poole to his natural son, 

Henry Fitzroy, duke of Richmond and Somerset, 
who was, in the following year, June 18, 17th Henry VIII., 
installed a knight of the garter : and afterwards appointed 
lieutenant of Ireland. He married Mary, daughter of 
Thomas, duke of Norfolk, and dying without issue, in 
1536, 28th Henry VI 1L, the manor again reverted to the 
crown ; and was, in the same year, granted, together with 

the manor of Pimperne, to 

/■ 

Henry Courtney, marquis of Exeter, and Gertrude, 
his wife, and their heirs, to be held in chief, by knight's 
service, and paying yearly £16 15s. 5 Jd. He was of the re- 
nowned and illustrious house of Courtney, and the eleventh 
earl of Devonshire; and was, June 18, 1525, advanced to 
the degree of marquis of Exeter. He was highly dis- 
tinguished for his valour and chivalric bearing * and stood 
high in the favour of Henry VIII. His lady Was one of 
the godmothers to princess (afterwards queen) Elizabeth* 
He was one of the lords who subscribed, in 1529, to the 
forty-four articles exhibited against cardinal Wolsey, and 



THE MANOR. S-3 

to the letter sent to pope Clement VII., earnestly entreating 
him to ratify the divorce between king Henry and Catharine 
his first wife. In 1536, he sat, with others, on the trial of 
queen Anne Boleyn * and, in the same year, in conjunction 
with the duke of Norfolk, the earls of Shrewsbury, Hun- 
tingdon, and Rutland, suppressed an insurrection in York- 
shire : and it was, probably, for these services that the 
above grant was made to him. But soon after he appears 
to have declined in the royal favour ; and, in 1538, being 
accused of maintaining intelligence with cardinal Pole, 
was, With others, committed to the Tower, and was behead- 
ed on Tower-hill, on the 9th of January following. Some 
writers ascribe the fate of the marquis to the jealousy the 
king entertained of his great popularity and his descent 
from the Plantagenets, which is for from being improbable. 
His lady was also attainted in the following year, but did 
not suffer. On these attainders, their possessions became 
again vested in the crown. 

In the 1st Edward VI., confirmed in the 4th of that 
monarch, this manor and the hundred of Cokedean, to- 
gether with small customs and prisage of wines at Poole, 
were granted to 

Edward, duke of Somerset, uncle of the king, and 
protector of the realm during Lis minority. The life of 
this nobleman belongs to national history. On his attainder 
and execution, which took place on the 22nd of January, 
1551-2, 5th Edward VI., these possessions once more 
reverted to the crown. 

About two years afterwards, on the 24th October, 1553, 
1st Mary, the queen granted to the above Gertrude, 
marchioness of Exeter, who had been pardoned, and "for 
the better maintenance and sustentation of her estate and 
degree," a number of manors and lordships, and, inter 
alia, the lordships and manors of Canford and Poole, with 



54 THE MANOR. 

the great and little parks of Canford, and all their rights, 
members, and appurtenances ; also Richmond's lands there, 
formerly belonging to Margaret, countess of Richmond, 
and afterwards to the duke of Somerset, which consisted of 
62s. 3d., issuing out of the manor of Canford ; and also 
£36 13s. 9d. out of the tenements in Poole and Ham ; to 
hold to her and her heirs and assigns, in capite, by one- 
twentieth of a knight's fee. By her will, dated August 27, 

1557, she gave this manor, with the fees and liberties, 
the lawns, and the farm of Upton, to her kinsman, James, 
lord Mountjoy and his heirs, on condition that if she 
in her lifetime should appoint a priest to pray for her soul 
in the church of Canford, and six poor men or women 
to abide within the said church to pray for her soul, and 
all christian souls within it; and also should erect six 
houses for the said six poor men or women ; lord Mount- 
joy and his heirs should, after her decease, pay yearly to 
the said priest and his successors 40s., and to the said six 
poor men or women £4 13s. 4d., towards the reparation 
of their houses, their maintenance and lodging. But this 
foundation appears to have been transferred by lord 
Mountjoy to Wimborne ; the six alms houses still bearing 
her name, stand near the eastern entrance to that town ; 
and the inmates continue to be appointed and paid by 
the lord of the manor of Canford. The marchioness died 

1558, and was buried at Wimborne Minster. She lies 
under an altar tomb of grey marble, beneath an arch, 
just above the ascent from the choir, on the north side. 
On the remaining portion of the brass plates which once 
went round the verge, is this imperfect inscription, the only 
fragment spared by the fanatics of the commonwealth : — 

" toninx quon&am J^iraci Couttcnap, 

martfjioni^ <££on, ctmatcc aBtrtaartii €outtotap 
nupcr co " 

Hutchins says, that her tomb being opened some years 
since out of curiosity, and repaired, the body was found 



THE MANOR. 55 

wrapped up in cerecloth; but being placed in an erect 
posture, the back-bone gave away, and all the other parts 
fell to pieces. There were several shields in quatrefoils 
upon the sides of the tomb, but they have been torn off. 
Her son Edward was, by queen Mary, created earl of 
Devon, and died at Padua, 1556. 

[As, however, the manor, &c. devised by the marchioness 
to lord Mountjoy, was held in capite, by the statute of 
wills, 34th Henry VIII., c. 5, only two-thirds of it pas- 
sed by her will ; the other one-third descended to her 
nephew, sir John Baker, of Sissinghurst, in Kent, who 
had his livery of this part, 16th Elizabeth ; and died 38th 
Elizabeth. Of his heirs it was purchased in 1611, by the 
earl of Huntingdon, who, as will be seen, infra, thus ob- 
obtained the entirety, with the exception of several small 
portions that had been alienated by lord Mountjoy.] 

The above James Blount, lord Mountjoy, was the 
descendant of an ancient and honourable family, tracing 
their pedigree up to the conquest. He was, we are told, 
a curious searcher into nature, and whilst he was possessed 
of this manor, discovered that there was, near Parkstone, 
earth yielding alum, on which, in 1564, he began to make 
calcanthum or copperas, and boil alum.^ In 1571, we 



* The fact that lord Mountjoy commenced the manufacture of alum in the imme- 
diate neighbourhood of Poole, so early as the year 1564, entirely subverts the gene- 
rally received assertion that the manufacture of that mineral was brought into this 
country in 1595, by sir Thomas Chaloner, who erected alum works near Gains- 
borough, Yorkshire. It had been a monopoly for several ages, in the hands of the 
court of Rome, and the current tradition says that sir Thomas, having, during his 
travels in Italy, discovered that the mineral from which alum was made, was the 
same as one which abounded on his own estate, engaged a number of the pope's 
workmen to accompany him to England; and it is added, that to avoid the discovery 
of his purpose he was obliged to convey them on ship-board concealed in large 
casks. Now it woidd be a pity entirely to subvert the romantic incident of these 
potted alum- workers, and it is not unlikely that sir Thomas did import foreigners 
to perfect the manufacture, which was probably somewhat rude in the commence- 
ment ; but it is clear that he has no claim to the honour of having made the discovery 
of the earth and originally introduced the manufacture. Lord Mountjoy possesses 
an antecedent claim by mure than thirty years. He erected two houses for the works 



56 THE MANOR. 

learn from Strypc, in his life of sir Thomas Smith, sir 
Thomas attempted to transmute iron into copper, and took 
a lease of land, of £300 per annum, of lady Mountjoy, 
near Poole, hoping to find there the minerals which were 
thought necessary to perform this work at a cheap rate. 
But the next year it came to nothing ; whether owing to its 
being impracticable, or to the unskilfulness of the undertaker 
employed by sir Thomas, or to the lord Mountjoy's gaining 
over one of his chief workmen, is uncertain. His lordship 
alienated Upton, and several other portions of the manor, 
It is found by a record, dated 9th Elizabeth, that two parts 
of the manor of Canford, and the warren and lands there, 
and in Wimborne, Kingston, and Poole, value £110 per 
annum, were held by James, lord Mountjoy, and Catharine 
his wife, with licence to alienate to 

John Brown and Charles Brown, esquires, to whom 
the premises were accordingly conveyed ; and by them 
they were afterwards solo* to 

Henry, third earl of Huntingdon, He was of the 
renowned familv of Hastings ; and was installed knight of 
the garter on June 19, 1579. He was lord lieutenant of the 
counties of Leicester and Rutland, and one of her majesty's 
privy council. His lordship was also president of the 
north, master of the queen's hare-hounds, and one of the 
peers who had charge of Mary queen of Scots. He died 
Dec. 14, 1595, without issue ; and his title and estates, 
including the two-thirds of the manor of Canford, de-? 
scended to his brother, 

George, fourth earl of Huntingdon, who died Dec. 
31, 1605, leaving as his heir, his grandson. 



on the heath, in the immediate vicinity of Poole, and continued them during his life, 
though, probably from the absence of his scientific superintendence, they afterwards 
went to decay. The fact and date are beyond dispute, both being recorded in some 
legal proceedings relative to the premises, which were entered into nearly half-a- 
century afterwards. 



THE MANOR. 57 

Henry, the fifth earl of Huntingdon, his father having; 
died during the lifetime of earl George. He was also lord 
lieutenant of the counties of Leicester and Rutland, steward 
of the duchy of Lancaster, and in May, 1616, one of the 
peers for the trial of the earl and countess of Somerset, 
for the poisoning" of sir Thomas Overbury. After he be- 
came possessed of the two-thirds of the manor of Canford, 
he endeavoured to restore the alum works set on foot by 
JLord Mountjoy, and which had then gone to decay : and 
by so doing, he became involved in disputes with the town 
of Poole, of which more hereafter. In 1611, he purchased 
the remaining one-third of the manor of the heirs of sir 
John Baker ; and having sold several parcels, conveyed the 
pest and the other two parts in the same year to 

Sir John Webb. It seems however to have soon after- 
wards reverted to the crown, or that the crown had, or 
professed to have, some claim to it; for Hutchins says 
that, in the 3rd Charles L, it was returned in an inquisition, 
that the king was lord of the manor ; and that in the 10th 
Charles L, the manor of Canford and Poole, the hundred 
of Cokedean, the capital messuage of Great Canford, the 
demesne lands belonging to it, and inclosed lands there and 
in Hampreston and Winiborne Minster, called the great 
park and Leigh park, were granted to John Webb, esquire. 
This sir John Webb, to whom the premises were conveyed 
in 1611, was son of John Webb, of Odstock, Wilts, esq., 
and grandson of William Webb, an eminent merchant of 
Salisbury, in the time of Henry VI IT. He was knighted 
1st James I., 1603, with his cousin, William Webb, of 
Payne's Place, near Shaftesbury, esq. His son, in whose 
favour was the grant of 10th Charles I., was a major- 
general in the service of the king in the civil wars ; and, 
as a reward for his services, he was created a baronet, 
April 2, 1644. In 1646, his manor, rents, and demesne 
land at Canford and Poole, value, in 164] , £300 per annum, 



58 



THE MANOR. 



were sequestered. He died 1680, and was buried at 
Odstock, leaving* his son and heir, 

Sir John Webb, bart., who died in 1700, and was also 
buried at Odstock, being succeeded in his title and estates 
by his son, 

Sir John Webb, bart., who died in 1745, at Aix-la- 
Chapelle. His first son, John, having died in 1744, with- 
out male issue, he was succeeded by his second son, 

Sir Thomas Webb, bart., who died June 29, 1763, 
leaving, as his successor, his eldest son, 

Sir John Webb, bart., of Canford, and of Easingwold, 
co. York, which latter estate came to him by his marriage 

with the daughter of Salvin, esq. He died between 

the 7th January and the 9th May, 1797, his will being 
dated on the former, and proved on the latter day. From 
a strange caprice, he contrived by his will that the possession 
of this extensive and valuable property should be left in a 
state of great uncertainty; and that the interests of his 
immediate descendants should be sacrificed to the prospec- 
tive aggrandizement of a more remote posterity. By this 
singular will, he devised all his estates in the county of 
Dorset, and in the town and county of Poole, to Edward 
Arrowsmith, esq., his heirs and assigns, upon trust that, 
after the payment of all charges and expenses, he and they 
shall, during the lives of the daughter (the countess of 
Shaftesbury,) and granddaughter (lady Barbara Ashley,) 
of the testator, and the life of the survivor of them, invest 
the surplus of the rents and profits in mortgage on real 
estates, or in government securities, the interest of which to 
be also so invested ; and that on the death of the survivor 
of his daughter and granddaughter, the estates, with all 
the accumulations, shall be equally divided amongst the 
children of his granddaughter, if more than one, and if 
but one, the whole to that one child, at their, his, or her 
ages or age of twenty-one years, or days or day of mar- 
riage, which shall first happen. The will gives the trustee 



THE MANOR. 59 

considerable powers for the management and improvement 
of the estates. 

Barbara, the only surviving 1 daughter of sir John Webb, 
was married July 17, 1780, to Anthony Ashley Cooper, 
fifth earl of Shaftesbury, and brother of the present earl ; 
and died in May, 1811, leaving one daughter, 

Barbara, who was born Oct. 29, 1788, and married 
Aug. 8, 1814, to the hon. William Francis Spencer Pon- 
sonby^, third son of the earl of Bessborough. In 1825. 
on the death of Mr. Arrowsmith, the trust, under the will 
of sir John Webb, was vested in the hon. Mr. Ponsonby, 
who has since acted as the sole trustee ; and under his ma- 
nagement the manor has been greatly improved of late 
years, and the old house replaced by the present stately 
mansion. This gentleman represented the borough of Poole 
in the parliaments of 1827, 1830, and 1831. In the last- 
mentioned year he retired from the representation of Poole, 



* The hon. Mr. Ponsonby is the descendant of a noble and ancient family, formeriy 
resident in the province of Picardy, in France, some of -whom, at the Norman invasion. 
in 1066, eame into England with William of Normandy, and, after his conquest, were 
rewarded with grants of lands in the county of Cumberland ; and being owners of the 
lordship of Ponsonby, in that county, assumed their name from thence. An old 
tradition that this family had the office of barber to the kings of England conferred 
upon them, in 1177, 23rd Henry II., when the place of butler was granted to the pre- 
decessor of the late dukes of Ormond, renders it probable, that some of these lands 
were formerly holden by grand-serjeanty, on the tenure of performing some personal 
service to the monarch, when required to do so ; and this probability is strengthened 
by the bearings (three combs) on the arms worn by the family. The more recent 
founder of the family went to Ireland in 1649, as an officer in the army of Cromwell, 
and settled in that country, where his services rendered him illustrious. The creations 
have been as follows : — baron Bessborough, of Bessborough, in the county of Kil- 
kenny, Sept. 11, 1721 ; viscount Duncannon, of the fort of Duncannon, in the county 
of Wexford, Feb. 2, 1722-3 ; earl of Bessborough, Oct. 6, 1739 ; and lord Ponsonby, 
baron Ponsonby, of Sysonby, in the county of Leicester, June 12, 1749. The titles 
of the present earl are Frederick Ponsonby, earl of Bessborough, viscount Duncannon, 
and baron of Bessborough, in the peerage of Ireland ; and baron Ponsonby, of Sysonby, 
in that of Great Britain. His lordship was born Jan. 24, 1758, and succeeded March 
11, 1793. He married, Nov. 27, 1780, lady Henrietta Frances Spencer, second daugh- 
ter of John, the first earl of Spencer, by whom, who died Nov. 11, 1821, he has 
issue, — 

1. John William, viscount Duncannon, born Aug. 31, 178-. 

2. The hon. major-gen. sir Frederick Cavendish, K.C.B., born July 6, 1783. 

3. Lady Caroline, born Nov. 13, 1785 ; died Jan 25, 1828, having married, June 3. 

1805, the hon. William Lamb, now viscount Melbourne. 
•L The hon. William Francis Spencer, M.P., born Feb., 1787, married, Aug. 8, 
1814, lady Barbara Ashley Cooper, only child of Anthony, fifth earl of 
Shaftesbury, 



60 THE MANOR. 

and was the unsuccessful candidate for that of the county 
of Dorset, in the celebrated and protracted contest with 
lord Ashley. In the parliament next following, however, 
he was chosen without opposition to represent that county. 
The issue of the hon. Mr. and lady Barbara Ponsonby, 
and in the survivors of whom the estates will ultimately 
vest, are, — 1st, Charles Frederick Ashley Cooper, 
born Sept. 12, 1815 ; — 2nd, Frances, born July 24, 
1817 ;— 3rd, Henry William George, born Sept. 1, 1819, 
died Nov. 4, 1821 ; — 4th, Anthony Ashley Wentworth^ 
born April 11, 1828, died Nov. 29, 1829;— 5th , Ashley 
George John, born June 25, 183L 



In all the transfers of the manor, Poole was considered 
an integral portion of it, and, in many records,- the manor 
is described as that "of Canford and Poole;" and down 
to the 10th Elizabeth, when the charter was granted to the 
borough, raising it to the state of a corporate county* it 
was an undivided member of the manor, af the court-leet 
of which, the mayor and other officers were formerly 
chosen and sworn. But, by that charter* a separate court- 
leet was granted to the borough, by which it became, 
in some measure, though not entirely* independent of Can- 
ford ; and for some time after it was granted, the lords of 
that manor held a courtebaron in Poole ; an instance of 
which occurs in the 21st Elizabeth* when, at a court-leet 
and baron held there, it was presented, that one* Thomas 
Aunwood, an alien, had purchased lands, which escheated 
to the lord; and Hutchins says, "since the charter, 10th 
Elizabeth, it lias been adjudged, that the lord of Canford 



THE MANOR, 61 

ought of right to keep the law-day on the morrow of 
new-year's day, in Poole, once a year* by the steward of 
that manor." After the judgment on quo icarranto was 
obtained against the town in 1681, until the restoration of 
the charter, an attempt was made on the part of the manor, 
to effect a reversion of things to their old course* Suit 
and service were again performed at the court-leet of the 
manor of Canford* and the requisite officers were there 
chosen ; but the official business of the town appears to 
have been transacted by a mayor and deputy mayor, 
appointed by commission* But after the restoration in 
1687, there are no proceedings recorded at the manor 
courts affecting the inhabitants of Poole. There were 
formerly copyholds in every part of Poole, the holders of 
which did suit and service to the lord in great numbers ; 
but they are now very much diminished. 

Since the partial severance of Poole from Canford, 
divers disputes have arisen between the inhabitants of the 
borough and the lords of the manor, principally with re- 
gard to the commonable rights* which have frequently been 
litigated in our courts of justice, at considerable expense to 
both parties. The inhabitants of Poole had always enjoyed 
by prescription, confirmed by grant of William Longespee, 
and by the subsequent charters, an unlimited right of com- 
mon for cattle* and turf for fuel* on the heaths of the 
manor* When the manor was held by James, lord Mount- 
joy, he established copperas and alum works at Parkstone, 
which, however, were subsequently permitted to run to 
decay ; but, nearly half a century afterwards, Henry* earl 
of Huntingdon, then lord of the manor, endeavoured to 
restore them. In these works a great quantity of turf was 
consumed by way of fuel, and his lordship proceeded to 
enclose certain portions of the waste land, for providing 
the turf necessary for the works. This measure appears 
to have given umbrage to the corporation and inhabitants 
of the town, who, under their ancient charters* claimed 



62 THE MANOR. 

unlimited right of common ; and they, therefore, proceeded 
to break down the fences erected by his lordship. On this, 
the earl filled a bill in chancery, dated 23rd June, 1610, 
reciting 1 that in his manor of Canford he had mineral works 
or mines of alum and copperas, and a great and spacious 
waste of 8,000 or 10,000 acres ; that the town of Poole 
was then built on 36 acres, all in the manor ; that the earl 
intended inclosing parts of the waste, and proceeding with 
the mines, which were fed with turf growing on such waste; 
that he had allotted parts of the waste to the purpose of 
such mines : and complaining that one Maudley, the mayor, 
and others, many of them being brewers, attempted to get, 
and did get to cut turf within the space allotted for the 
mines ; and that the corporation had engaged people to 
throw down the ancient enclosures on the waste. His 
lordship contended, that the holders of ancient tenements 
alone ought to take fuel on the waste, and for their own 
provision only, Oct. 4, 1610, the respondents put in their 
answer to the above bill, in which they plead in bar, that 
the matters are tryable at common law ; they say that two 
houses onlv were erected for the copperas and alum works, 
by the late James, lord Mountjoy, about 46 years then past; 
that one of these houses was taken down, and the other 
gone to decay ; that part of the soil was held of the king's 
majesty in chief; that Poole was an ancient town, and that 
from time out of mind, the inhabitants had been entitled 
to common without stint, and the full right of turbary, &c: 
they deny his lordship's right to enclose any part of the 
waste, and complain of the excessive quantity of turf used 
in the copperas and alum houses. The bill was subse- 
quently dismissed from the court, as involving a question 
of prescription, and tryable at common law. His lordship 
took no further proceedings, and the commonable rights of 
the townsmen remained unquestioned. 

Sir John Webb, then lord of the manor of Canford, 
circ. 1739, attempted to establish a right to the waste 



THE MANOR. 63 

ground and soil in and belonging to the town of Poole, to 
low water mark; and also to certain petty customs and 
town dues, as keyage and cellarage, &c. ; and he filed a 
bill in chancery, against the corporation. But this bill was, 
on a full hearing, on the 9th Feb., 1742, dismissed with 
costs, by lord chancellor Hardwick, who declared that he 
did not find that the plaintiff had made out any foundation 
of right claimed by the bill, and that the bill must, in con* 
sequence, be dismissed. He added, that it would be a 
mischievous thing if people were permitted, on discovering 
old musty papers in their closets, to come into that court, 
and dispute the right of others, without shewing any in 
themselves. "Therefore," he said, "let the bill be dismissed 
with costs ; and I the rather dismiss it with costs, because 
of the great expense which the defendants have been put to 
in this cause." 

About the same time, sir John Webb recovered, on an 
issue directed from the court of chancery, the salterns, at 

Parkstone, held by Cleeves, who had taken leases of 

the land from sir John Webb and the corporation (both of 
whom claimed it) ; sir John Webb's tenants deposing that 
the salt works were above high water mark, and that before 
they were erected, the cattle fed on the land as part of the 
common of the manor. 

Sir John Webb was in the habit of erecting* a toll-booth 
upon the waste within the town gates, for a fortnight before 
and a fortnight after midsummer, in every year, for the 
purpose of collecting a toll or duty, called chiminage. 
On the 6th June, 1744, the mayor and corporation disputed 
bis right to do so, destroyed the booth, and made an 
order to prevent its recurrence in future. 

On or about 1781, sir John Webb, grandson of him last 
mentioned, " being a man of a scheming mind and of great 
opulence," as the counter-petition informs us, became de- 
sirous of enclosing some hundreds of acres of the mud- 
lands adjoinfng Parkstone, and which are situate in what is 



64 THE MANOR, 

now called Hole's bay ; and presented a petition to Parlia* 
ment for an act for that purpose. The corporation of 
Poole presented a counter-rpetition, setting forth that such 
mudlands belonged to them by prescription, as part of the 
harbour of Poole ; and that their embankment would be 
very prejudicial to the said harbour, and eventually ruin 
the trade of the said town and its inhabitants. On which 
sir John Webb desisted from his attempt to obtain an act 
of parliament, and shortly afterwards delivered several 
ejectments for the recovery of such lands below high water 
mark, as had been converted into private quays ; the pow- 
der-house, at Baiter; and some other buildings on the 
Hamworthy side. But these ejectments were dropped, in 
consequence of an arrangement between the corporation 
and sir John Webb, by which the former consented to the 
embankment of certain mudlands, sir John Webb having 
offered to give up certain quit rents, and allow the corpo- 
ration certain privileges, But sir John Webb, in 1787, 
finding his proposed embankment impracticable, laid aside 
the scheme, and matters returned to the same state as before 
the aboye arrangement. Several suits were commenced, 
and an action of ejectment was tried at the Dorset summer 
assize, 28th July, 1792, before Mr. justice Buller, in which 
sir John Webb was plaintiff, and the corporation and Law*? 
rence Tiilloch, their lessee, were defendants, The premises 
in question were a parcel of land, on West Butts shore, on 
which a wind-mill was erected, situate between high and 
low water marks ; and were claimed by sir John Webb, as 
part of the manor of Canford, which, he contended, ex- 
tended to low water mark ; but the corporation insisted on 
their right to them, as part of the mud or waste lands of 
the harbour. The cause was tried by a special jury, who 
had a view of the locus in quo, and, on the presumption that 
the manor extended to low water mark, the jury found a 
verdict for the plaintiff. This was a most important ver- 
dict, and caused much consternation in the town, as it was 



THE MANOR. 65 

likelv to operate very much to the disadvantage of indi- 
viduals, if not to the injury of the trade and commerce of 
the town, many of the inhabitants having-, from time imme- 
morial, erected considerable buildings, wharfs, and private 
quays, on and adjoining to the mudlands, without the pay- 
ment or demand of any acknowledgment whatever ; and 
if they were to be affected by the decision, and could not 
avail themselves of ancient prescriptive right or usage, 
those, at least, whose improvements and erections had been 
made within twenty years, were liable to the operation of a 
dormant right, which might, possibly, be exercised so as to 
deprive them of the use of their private quays, &c, built 
at a very considerable expense, or otherwise subject them to 
the payment of heavy rents and acknowledgements. This 
difficulty, however, and other questions, with respect to sir 
John Webb's manorial rights,were set at rest by the act of the 
45th Geo. III., under which allotments were made (inter 
alia J of all the mudlands in the harbour; and all disputes 
between the town and the lord of the manor were thus ad- 
justed. Under this act, the sand pit, about half a mile from 
the town, is allotted, as such, to Poole ; a conduit head and 
reservoir are allotted, at a spring on Constitution hill and 
at a pond near the turnpike gate house at the end of 
Towngate street*, (but these were never appropriated to 
the purpose, and the pond is now filled up) ; it is provided 
that, after certain deductions specified, one-seventh part of 
the whole residue of the waste lands in the manor, (except 
the mudlands,) and all the residue of the waste within the 
town and county of Poole, and also the mudlands within 
the limits of that town and county, bounded on the north- 
east by the town ditch, and on the east and south-east by 
the low water mark of a certain channel or lake running" 
from a place called Scalescraft, into the great channel of 



* This pond formed part of the ancient fosse, by which the town v.as formerly 
protected at that extremity. The spot has since been conveyed by the corporation to 
31r. Wm. Major, by a deed of exchange, in lieu of an adjoining portion of land. 



66 THE MANOR. 

the harbour of Poole, and on the south and south-west by 
the low water mark of the same great channel, and on the 
west and north-west by the low water mark of the great 
channel or stream leading towards a place called Creek- 
moor, and also all other mudlands within the said town 
and county, shall be set out, allotted, and awarded by the 
said commissioners, to and amongst the several persons, 
bodies politic and corporate, within the town and county 
of the town of Poole, in lieu of and in full compensation 
for their respective rights of common and turbary. These 
wastes and mudlands are directed to be allotted — one-third 
to the corporation, and the remaining two-thirds to the 
owners of messuages, &c, in Poole. It is provided, that 
no mudlands are to be subdivided, the inclosure of which 
would be prejudicial to the harbour, but that one-third of 
such mudlands be allotted to the corporation, and two- 
thirds to the owners of messuages, &c, in entire parcels. 
The act provides that the well at Tatnam, used by the 
inhabitants of Pooled, shall remain uninclosed and unap- 
propriated. By this act, also, the inhabitants of Poole 
were relieved from the payment of the customary fee farm 
rents. We find that they formerly paid for the farm of 
their liberties, the sum of £8 13s. 4d., which is the sum 
they are described as paying to Henry, earl of Lincoln, 
and afterwards to Thomas, earl of Lancaster, t. Edward II. ; 
but this rent was afterwards reduced to £6 lis. 7Jd. ; 
the particulars of which are thus entered in a book, enti- 
tled, "the Chiefage book," dated 5th Elizabeth, 28th 
April : — 

" The bailiff of Poole pays yearly to the reeve of Canford, 
the fee farm of the whole chief rent of the town of Poole, 
as had been always accustomed time out of mind, £5 17 5| 



* The conduit head, at Tatnam, had been previously conceded to the town, by a 
grant in the 34th Henry VIII., (at which time the manor was vested in the crown, 
after the attainder of the marquis of Exeter, ) confirmed by an act of Parliament : 
and the town had, at various times, incurred considerable expense in erecting and 
maintaining the necessary buildings. 



THE MANOR. 67 

In which said sum is comprised 10c/. for a pound of > 
wax and a pound of cummin. $ 
The bailiffs also for ale waits*, 14 2 



£6 11 7§ 

This amount was formerly provided for by a distinct rate 
levied on the inhabitants, and collected by the water-bailiff; 
but, July 1 9 1771, it was agreed at a public vestry, "that 
the chief rent of £6 lis. 7jd. annually due to sir John 
Webb, as lord of the manor, should be annually paid bj 
the overseers of the poor, in order to avoid the trouble and 
expense of a distinct rate collected by the water-bailiff as 
before used." This fee farm rent continued to be paid 
until the inclosure of the wastes under the above mentioned 
act. 



The manorial mansion, with its demesne, is delightfully 
situated on the southern bank of the river Stour, and stands 
upon the site formerly occupied by the seat of the ancient 
lords of the manor. The venerable structure, pulled down 
that the present edifice might be reared, though evidently 
erected at various periods, bore testimony, in every part, 
to its claims to considerable antiquity, and, for many years 
before its demolition, was one of the rarest specimens of 
our early mansion houses. A portion of it was, not impro- 
bably, coeval with the elder Longespee, who, undoubtedlv, 
occasionally resided here : and there is a tradition preserved 
amongst the old retainers of the estate, that the mansion 
was, at one time, inhabited by king John. This tradition 
is confirmed by a consideration of the vagrant life led by 



* These "ale waits" seem to have been fees paid to the steward, for attendance — 
at the High Court day, Cs. 8d. ; and at five other court days, at Is. 6d. each, 7s. 6d. 



68 THE MANOR. 

that monarch ; of the visits made by him to this part of the 
country ; of the neighbourhood of Corfe Castle, where he 
for some time resided ; of the troubles in which he was 
frequently involved; and of the steady attachment with 
which, despite his vices as a man and a monarch, Longes- 
pee regarded his royal brother. Striking and varied have 
been the scenes which the antique walls of " the gray old 
house" witnessed during the lapse of nearly seven cen- 
turies. The virtues and the sorrows of the gentle Ela ; the 
honours of the heroic Longespees ; the romantic elopement 
of Maud ; the unfortunate life of Alice de Lacy ; the glo- 
ries of the Montacutes ; the renown of John of Somerset ; 
and the piety of Gertrude of Exeter; sufficed to invest 
with no common interest, the mansion successively occupied 
by these personages. The only portion of the ancient 
house now remaining, is the old kitchen, of which an en- 
graving is subjoined as a vignette. How the appellation 
of " John of Gaunt's kitchen," by which this structure has 
been long familiarly known, became attached to it, is now 
difficult to conjecture. That " time-honoured Lancaster" 
was never in possession of Canford, which, during the 
whole of his life, was in the hands of the Montacutes. This 
kitchen, with its capacious fireplaces, speaks powerfully of 
the manners and the hospitalities of former days — of times 
when the proud baron sat surrounded by a gallant com- 
pany, and feasted in his halls a numerous retinue of armed 
servitors. Long may it stand to connect the present day 
with the romantic incidents associated with the more re- 
mote history of the mansion. A part of the buildings was 
demolished in 1765, consisting principally of the out offices. 
About the commencement of the present century, the man- 
sion itself was let to the English Teresan nuns of Hoogstraet, 
in Brabant, founded by Teresa, a virgin of Avila, in Spain, 
under an abbess. They quitted Hoogstraet, July 7, 1794, 
and, arriving in London on the 13th, were placed at Friar's 
place, near Acton, which belonged to the prior of St. 



THE MANOR- 



69 



Bartholomew, "West Smithfield, and from thence they re- 
tired hither, where they found an asylum from the horrors 
with which they were threatened by the French revolution. 
In 1825, however, it having 1 been determined to rebuild 
the house, the nuns left it, and embarking- at Poole, again 
repaired to the continent. The remaining portions of the 
ancient structure were then rased, and the present stately 
edifice was reared on its site. It is an elegant and com- 
modious house, in the architecture of the Elizabethan age, 
built from a design of Edward Blore, esq. ; and has since 
been occupied by the lion. Mr. Ponsonby and his family. 

The manorial rights extend over the whole parish, con- 
sisting of upwards of sixteen thousand acres, and compris- 
ing the following hamlets, &c: — Little Canford, Ensbury, 
Kinson, Knighton, Longfleet, Merley, Parkstone, and 
Upton. 




THE OLD KITCHEN, AT C'ANFOED. 



70 



€fje General ^i£torp. 



Few literary tasks are enveloped in greater difficulties 
than those with which the topographer meets in the attempt 
to trace the history of a town up to its origin. The farther 
he penetrates into the recesses of antiquity, the more per- 
plexed does he become, and the more labyrinthine does his 
path appear. The changes that have been effected over 
the face of the country by the progress of civilization ; the 
corruption and alteration of names, during the silent march 
of century after century ; the scarcity of written records 
and official documents, prior to the time of Henry III.,# 
and the destruction of a great portion of these, scanty and 
imperfect as they were, by the ravages of time, and still 
more by the devastation of this species of literature with 
which the dissolution of the monastic establishments was 
attended ; often present insuperable obstacles to giving any 
connected and uninterrupted series of historical memoranda. 
If, in the absence of written testimony, the enquirer re- 
sort to local tradition, he meets with discrepancies and con- 
tradictory legends, which, deviating widely in their oral 
descent, are too opposite to admit of reconcilement. These 
difficulties press much upon the present subject of enquiry. 

* Rymer gives a striking instance of the great scarcity of books before the inven- 
tion of printing. So late as 1424, the countess of Westmoreland presented a petition 
to the privy council, representing that the late king, Henry V., had borrowed a 
book from her, and praying that an order might be given, under the privy seal, for 
the restoration of the said book, which was granted with great solemnity. 



GENERAL HISTORY. 71 

In treating of the early portion of the history of Poole, 
a claim for a much higher degree of antiquity than has 
hitherto been assigned to the town, may be fairly made. 
The generally advanced opinion, that it had no existence 
until subsequently to the Norman conquest, is certainly 
erroneous ; and although it is not now sought to assert that 
Poole was, in the more remote ages of our national exist- 
ence, a maritime town of great commercial or other im- 
portance, yet it is contended that there still exist ample 
remains to evidence that the smooth waters of its harbour 
have, assuredly, been ploughed by the more aspiring beaks 
of the Roman galleys, if, indeed, they have not also sha- 
dowed the frail coracle of the early Britons. 

Baxter, in his Glossary, places here the " Bolbelaunium" 
of Ravennas, or rather, as he corrects it, Bolnelaunium, de- 
riving it from the Celtic Bol-ne-lau?i-iu, signifying a head 
or bay full of water^. This opinion well corresponds 
with the order of Ravennas, and the etymology is 
strictly in conformity to the nature of the place. The pre- 
sent name, Poole, may be either an abbreviated corruption 
of the old Celtic phrase, as suggested by Baxter, or a mere 
Saxon translation of it ; and the analogy between the Celtic 
" bol " and the Saxon " pool," affords material for the en- 
quirer into the abstrusities of philology. This etymological 
fragment is, with the exception of a few British coins that 
have been dug up in the neighbourhood-f-, the only link 
serving, at the present day, to connect Poole with the tribes 
of the ancient Britons : indeed, the wild and desultory habits 
of that nomadic race precluded them from leaving other 
vestiges of their temporary settlements sufficiently marked 
to reach to this day, excepting in tracts which the hand of 



* " Bolnelaunium : Nam quis dubitet ita scribendum in Ravennatc, pro co quod in 
libro est, casu etiam sexto, Bolvelaunio ? Ut sit Bol ne launiii, quod est caput vel 
etiam sinus PLENiE uxd;e. Ilodie curtato nomine Tool dicitur : et est in Durotrigi- 
bus satis vetustum oppidum."— [Baxter, Gloss: Anti : Brit: p. 43, fo. 1719.] 

+ A Britisb gold coin of a very early era, and of a type figured by Kuding, was 
fouud near Toole, in 1835, 



72 GENERAL HISTORY. 

civilized man has left unaltered by the operation of the 
plough; or on spots where our shepherd-fathers have 
themselves fortified some hill-city as a more stable and 
secure place of refuge when pressed by their enemies. 

A Roman vicinal way, that has been traced from the 
shore of the harbour near Upton house, and which, passing 
by Cogdean elms, — where are two barrows, and where, in 
Hutchins's time, the dorsum was very visible — leads to the 
station of Bindogladia (now Badbury rings), originally 
British, but subsequently occupied by the Romans ; shews 
that the Romans made use of the harbour, at least, as a 
convenient landing place ; whilst the coins that, at various 
times, have been exhumed within the precincts of Poole or 
its immediate neighbourhood, testify that a spot so adapted 
for fitting out maritime excursions to the neighbouring 
places, was not left without settlers. The most extensive 
discovery of such coins took place so lately as 1832, when 
several hundreds were dug up, in a meadow, at Sterte, 
about a quarter of a mile from the town. These coins, 
which had been buried in a vase of fine pottery, are of the 
time included between a.d. 253, and a.d. 274, and bear 
the effigies of the emperors Valerianus, Gallienus, Claudius 
Gothicus, and Aurelianus ; of the empress Salonina, con- 
sort of Gallienus; and of the usurpers Postumus, Laelianus, 
Tetricus, Tetricus Csesar, and Quintillus. They are nearly 
all of the common third brass, and of the same size. 
Two only are of silver. The state of preservation exhibi- 
ted by the greater number was exceedingly fine ; and the 
reverses were very varied; many of them being highly 
beautiful specimens of art. The vase, in which they were 
secreted, was broken by the tool of the workman, and a 
few fragments only could be obtained ; enough, however, 
to ascertain that it was of the ordinary shape. 

In his splendid work, Britannia Romana, Mr. Horsley 
is inclined to fix the Roman station of Portus Magnus on 
this spot, " in the large bay (or what else you please to 



GENERAL HISTORY. 7*j 

call it) when the river Frome, coming from Dor Chester 4 
empties itself near Poole and Wareham;" — J* because (he 
adds) then the situation of the other neighbouring places 
seems to answer exactly enough, and the title Magnus may 
suit the haven here." This opinion, however, will not re- 
sist the test of careful and candid examination, and has 
been long exploded; the localities connected with the 
Portus Magnus of Ptolemy, and particularly its relative 
position to the Isle of Wight, having induced the best 
authorities to concur in placing it at Porchester. 

In the Saxon times, Poole was undoubtedly in existence 
as a settlement, though it had not then attained to much 
consideration. Occasional mention is made of it in the 
troublous period in which the Danish hordes visited 
and devastated this land. In the years 997-8, the Danes 
ravaged the western coast ; and, in the latter year, they 
entered Poole harbour, stationed their fleet at the mouth 
of the Frome, and spread themselves over Dorsetshire. 
Forces were often collected to oppose them ; but whenever 
they were about to join battle, some irresolution appeared, 
— whether arising from the apprehension of treachery in 
their leaders, distrust of their courage or conduct, or that 
fear which a succession of defeats may bring, even upon 
brave men, — and the invaders were always victorious. 
" The seas," says Southey, " which, since England became 
a great maritime power, have secured it against all fo- 
reign enemies, served, in these unhappy ages, only to 
expose it, on all sides, to predatory invasion ; and the 
invaders, having now learnt to despise a divided people, a 
feeble government, and a pusillanimous king, sailed up 
the rivers at their will, and penetrated into the country, 
whithersoever they would^." This policy of the Danes in 
penetrating the country so far as the navigation of the rivers 
would permit them, and thus securing a congenial mode 



* Southey' s Nav : Hist: v. i., p. 61-5.— Sax: Chron : 172.— Turner's Anglo Sax; 
ii.. 168-9. 



74 GENERAL HISTORY. 

of retreat to their accustomed element, well accords with 
the opinion of Leland, an acute enquirer into local tradition, 
who states that Poole had, previously to this time, risen to 
some importance, on the decadence of Wareham, owing to 
the alluvial deposit at the embouchure of the river Frome; 
but that Wareham again flourished as a Danish town^. 

When discontents prevailed in consequence of the im- 
posts collected by Ethelred, the Anglo-Danes opened a 
secret communication with king Canute, who had been 
driven from England the previous year, and invited him to 
return, assuring him of their support. Canute soon got 
together a fleet of 200 ships, royally decked, furnished and 
appointed, both for brave shew and necessary furniture 
of all manner of weapons, arms, and munition-f*. He 
sailed first for Sandwich, a.d. 1015, which seems to have 
been the favourite port of the Danes ; he then sailed for 
Poole harbour ; and making Wareham his naval station, 
he ravaged the three counties of Dorset, Somerset, and 
Wilts. Poole, with other places, had been held, during 
Canute's absence, by adventurers, for him, in case he 
should return, or for themselves, as the course of events 
might determine. Canute's fleet in the harbour was soon 
augmented by forty ships, brought over to him by the 
traitor Edric. Wareham continued to be his naval station 
during this and the following year, when, having gathered 
all his forces there, that monarch moved with his ships to 
the Thames, and stationed them at Greenwich. 

Having thus glanced at the British, Roman, and Saxon 
asres, we arrive at the time in which the Norman William 
enforced the title of the sword to the conquered crown of 
England. In the reign of this prince, we meet with that 

* " I can gather no otherwise, but whereas of old times, shippes came sum what 
nere to Wareham, up the haven, and there had vent of their wares ; and synce 
shippes lost their rode there for lak of depth of water, shippes kept and resortid 
nerer to Pole town, and so it by a little encreasid, and Wareham felle clene to ruins. 
Howbeit, Wareham was ons so rerasid in the Danes wars."—- [Itin, iii, 69 3 70. J 

t Holinshed. i., 718. 



GENERAL HISTORY. 75 

stupendous territorial survey, undertaken by order of that 
monarch, and known as the Domesday book"^. In this 
document Poole is not mentioned bv name, being 1 doubtless 
included in the survey of the manor of Canford, of which it 
formed an integral part, until it was invested with the pri- 
vileges of a county corporate, by the charter of 10th 
Elizabeth. From this absence, and from the few persons 



* This great national record was compiled, under the orders of William, by roving 
commissioners sent into every county, constituting the first instance upon record of 
an inquisitorial commission of enquiry. It was undertaken to ascertain and secure 
the revenue which arose from the great laud proprietors ; and occupied eight years in 
the compilation. It was completed, as appears from a memorandum inserted at the 
end of the second volume, in the year 1086, the twentieth of the king's reign. This 
remarkable monument of antiquity, though one of the most important records in 
the kingdom, and affording highly valuable antiquarian and historical information, 
is by no means so exact or uniform as some historians have represented it. 

It is not unusual to describe Domesday as a badge of Norman tyranny. That the 
survey was prompted by the stern and rigid principles of government adopted by the 
conqueror, cannot be denied ; but instead of being calculated to enlarge his authority, 
it was, in truth, an admission of the restriction of his power. Had he considered 
himself as an absolute monarch, governing by right of conquest, there would have 
been little necessity to enquire into the prerogatives of Edward the confessor. New 
lords had become seised of the halls of the Saxon thanes ; and few, indeed, of the 
English aristocracy enjoyed any share of wealth or honour. Still the law was un- 
shaken and unchanged. The record which testified the extent of the rights of the 
sovereign, was an equal protection to the humble socman ; who, if his franchises 
were invaded, was thereby enabled to claim his plough-land with as much certainty 
as the king could assert his wide-spreading prerogative. The precedent so given was 
soon universally adopted : every prelate and every baron imitated the proceedings of 
the royal courts, as closely as could be effected by the constitution of the seignorial 
tribunal : the value of the rents of the manor, and the services of the bondmen were 
investigated by proceedings modelled after the prototype of Winchester ; and every 
"extent" of lands, tenements, or hereditaments, that is to say, an enquiry into their 
nature and value, effected by means of a jury impannelled before the escheator, the 
sheriff, or any other person delegated by the crown, derives its origin from the 
proceedings of the Exchequer of the Conqueror. 

One of the principal objects of the Domesday survey, was to ascertain the number 
of hydes, which were to be charged with the Danegeld. This land-tax was assessed 
at the rate of six shillings per hyde, amounting, on the average, to one hundred 
acres : and until the laud was brought under the plough, it does not appear to have 
been liable to the payment. The increase of cultivation may, therefore, have been 
one of the causes which induced the ambitious Flambard to advise another survey, 
which was considered as one of the greatest grievances of the tyranny of the red 
king. Other general surveys, in the nature of Domesday, were made from time to 
time. Henry I. made similar enquiries ; and a most curious description of Winches- 
ter is extant, resulting from the inquest of the eight score and six burgesses, impan- 
nelled before the commissioners, in which we have the particulars of every house in 
the city, which paid "landgable" or ground-rent to the king, in the days of Edward 
the confessor, and at the period when the survey was made. It is uncertain to what 
period we are to refer the fragments of another general survey, hitherto unnoticed, 
and affording some important particulars relating to tenure, which are omitted in 
Domesday. For instance, from the description of the boroughs of Winchcomb and 
Gloucester, we ascertain that the burgesses had a certain estate by inheritance in 
their burgages, and which was not divested by the conquest. 



7<3 



GENERAL HISTORY* 



specified as pertaining to that manor, it has been inferred* 
that Poole had no existence till subsequently to the Norman 
conquest. This position, however, is easily refuted ; and 
that document cannot affect the question. The following 
is the passage in this great fiscal record, relating to the 
manor : — 

u Dorsete; 

" XXXI. Terra Edwardi Sarisber'. 

" Edwardvs Sarisber' ten' de Rege Cheneford. Vluueii 
tenuit T. R. E. et geldb' p' xxv hid'. Tra' e' xviii car'; 
De ea s' in dnio' xi hidae et dim' et ibi iii car' et ix servi 
et xxxv villi' et xl bord' cu' xv car'. Ibi molini ii° redd' 
xv solid' et cxviii ac' pti'. Pastura ii leu' int' lg' et lat'. 
Bilva una leu' lg' et dim' leu' lat'. 

" Ad Winbvrne iii bord' et una dom' ptin' huic m' et ibi 
una leu' brocae." 

This, translated, runs thus : — 

Edward of Salisbury holds Canford of the king. Ulweri 
held it in the time of king Edward, and it was taxed for 
twenty-five hides. There is land for eighteen ploughs. 
Of this there are in the demesne, eleven hides and a half; 
and therein three ploughs, and nine bondmen, and thirty- 
five villeins, and forty bordars, with fifteen ploughs. There 
are two mills paying fifteen shillings ; and one hundred and 
eighteen acres of meadow. Pasture two miles in length 
and breadth. Wood one mile long and half a mile broad. 
Three bordars and one house in Wimborne belong to this 
manor, and there is one mile of brushwood. 

The whole number of persons here specified does not 
exceed eighty-four, — a number so small as to lead to the 
inference that it includes those only who were more imme- 
diately the retainers of the lord for agricultural purposes* 
and appurtenent to those broad acres, the survey of which 
was the great object of William's commissioners. It should 
not be forgotten, that this work was compiled only for the 
purpose of affording a rent roll, as it were, of the tenure 
and value of the lands throughout the kingdom. It was 
not a parochial survey or census of population ; but such 



GENERAL HISTORY. 77 

persons only were recorded, whose lands and tenements 
rendered some payment or service to the state. It is obvi- 
ous that all the burghers or actual inhabitants of cities and 
boroughs are not mentioned: no monks nor clergr are 
enumerated ; vet it is said that the parish churches in Eng- 
land about this time, amounted to 46,122. In Dorsetshire, 
they were 216. This document, therefore, throws no light 
upon this part of the enquiry. 

From the time at which we have arrived, however, the 
state of Poole, its progress in commercial and municipal 
importance, and its connection with national events and trans- 
actions may be more clearly traced. In the eleventh and 
twelfth centuries, the fortunes of Poole must have rapidly 
risen, and increased collaterally with the second declension 
of Wareham, which town suffered, not only from its grow- 
ing inconvenience as a port, but also from the wars between 
king Stephen, and the empress Maud. On the breaking- 
out of these troubles, the town and castle of Wareham 
were seized for Maud, by Robert de Lincoln. It was 
p.fterwards held for her by the earl of Gloucester ; and, in 
1142, during the absence of the earl, Stephen took the 
castle and burnt the town. It was in the same year retaken 
by the earl of Gloucester, after a siege of three weeks, with 
a force of only between 300 and 400 men. Four vears 
afterwards it was a^ain made the scene of a bloodv conflict, 
being taken by the king, after a siege in which much 
blood was shed. During so turbulent and so perilous a 
period, the more peaceable inhabitants, including those 
who were engaged in trade and commerce, and who had 
moveable possessions to preserve, naturally forsook a town 
in which their lives and property were so insecure, and 
great numbers migrated to the neighbouring' town of 
Poole, where all the trade, previously seated at Wareham, 
soon became centred* 

We now approach a period in which there is undoubted 
evidence that the town of Poole was holding a position of 



78 



GENERAL HISTORY. 



prosperity and of some importance. That it was a port of 
considerable maritime resort in the early part of the thir- 
teenth century, appears from its being included in a list of 
the principal ports in England ; to the authorities of which, 
in 1224, the orders of the king, Henry III., were sent, in 
consequence of the expiration of a truce with France, to 
lay an embargo on all vessels lying in, or arriving at, 
those ports, and to keep them in readiness for the king's 
service.^? 

The language and intent of the charter of William Long- 
espee, granted to the burgesses of Poole, shortly after the 
period last named, are strongly indicative that the worthy 
burghers had been for some time carrying on a lucrative 
trade. The charter grants many important privileges to 
the burgesses ° and it states that, as an acknowledgment of 
these, the lord was paid seventy marks, (£46 13s. 4d.) — a 
very considerable sum in those days, and equal, in its value 
as a medium of exchange, to about £500 at present. This 
charter is without date, and the time at which it was granted, 
and the identity of the William Longespee who conceded it, 
have ever hitherto been regarded as matters of mere con- 
jecture ; but a little attentive enquiry suffices to place it 
almost beyond doubt, that this document was granted in or 
about the year 1248, and by the second William Longespee. 
The first only of the three Longespees enjoyed the title of the 
earldom of Salisbury : and as the charter purports to have 
been granted by William Longespee simply, a presumption 
that it was granted by one of the last two, naturally arises* 



* The following is the list 'of the ports spoken of:— 

La Pole now Poole Gipewic . 

Sorham Shorcham Lenne . . . 

Suhanton Southampton Erwell . . . 

Safford . , Seaford Ermuth. . . 

Portesmue Portsmouth Dour 

Exon Exeter Rimemele . 

Bristoll Bristol Rya 

Dertmue Dartmouth Kingeston 

Ilorwic Harwich Eya 

Gernemue Yarmouth Hasting... 

Orefovd Or ford Pageham . 

Dunewic — — Dun with Pevenes. . . 



•now Ipswich 
,'<—— Lynne 

. Orwell 

, Yarmouth ( I. W.) 

. Dover 

, Rumley 

. Rye 

.* Hull 

• Eye 

Hastings 

. Paghaua 

. Pevensey; 



GENERAL HISTORY. 79 

The third of the name survived the second for six years 
only, and expired very shortly after he had attained his 
majority. The probability that hence arises in favour of 
the second William is reduced to a certainty, by an inves- 
tigation of the seal appended to the document ; and which 
is the same as that engraved in the Rev. W. L. Bowles's 
History of Lacock Abbey, and ascribed, by that writer, to 
the second Longespee. The seal has long presented nothing 
but a small bag of crumbling- fragments ; but a minute 
examination of these will decidedly establish the identity. 
Longespee II. survived his father from 1226 to 1250, and' 
between these dates, therefore, the charter must have been 
granted : but, brief as is the space of twenty-four years, the 
uncertainty may be reduced to much more confined limits. 
The military life of that great warrior, and the wild chiv- 
alric adventures in which he was occupied, afforded him 
little time for sojourning in his native land, and would 
have withheld him from giving attention to the interests of 
his burgesses and subfeudatories, unless with a view to the 
advancement of his military undertakings. The seventy 
marks, paid by the burgesses of Poole for their liberties, 
may be here adduced as strikingly indicative of the object 
and thence of the date of the charter. This considerable 
sum must have been paid, not as a merely nominal acknow- 
ledgment, but to serve some useful purpose. Now the 
historical particulars of Longespee that have come down 
to us state that, from 1247 to 1249, he was engaged in 
collecting* all the revenues and resources that could be 
made available for the purpose of furthering his under- 
taking* in the Holy Land, on which he departed in the 
latter-mentioned year. With this object he visited the 
court of Rome, in 1247; and soliciting the pope to forward 
his views, the holy pontiff granted him what he asked; and 
by aid of the pope's letters, and his other means, he ob- 
tained in all more than a thousand marks. It is more than 
probable, therefore, that it was after his return from Rome, 



*0 GENERAL HISTORY. 

and during his preparations for the crusade, in 1248, that 
this charter of privileges was conferred on his burgesses of 
Poole, for the purpose of augmenting his funds to the not 
inconsiderable amount of seventy marks. 

In the numerous writs issued under the royal mandate, 
about this time, for the supply of shipping, we find that 
Poole was not forgotten as a maritime port. 

In the year 1254, 38th Henry III., the writ " De navibus 
perquirendis ad transfetationem reginse et aliorum," is 
directed, amongst others, to the bailiffs of the port of " la 
Pole." 

In the year 1295, 23rd Edward I., Poole furnished three 
ships with fifty-nine mariners towards the fleet fitted out 
for Guienne, under the command of the earls of Lancaster, 
Richmond, and Lincoln, in prosecution of the war under- 
taken by the king against France.^ 

King Edward I., in the year 1300, by the advice of his 
nobles, entirely prohibited the currency of " pollards and 
crokards," and all other money not of his own coinage. 
In the reign of this monarch, varieties of corrupt and 
deceitful money were coined in parts beyond the seas, pri- 
vately brought into the kingdom, and uttered here for 
pennies, though not worth more than a halfpenny. The 
king adopted various measures for putting an end to this 



* This fleet was divided into four squadrons, of winch one sailed for Guienne. 
whilst the other three were equipped to guard the coasts, viz., the Yarmouth, or 
eastern, under John de Battletort; the Portsmouth, or southern, under William de 
Laybon ; and the Irish, or western, whose commander is not named. The south 
fleet, which included the vessels from Poole, was composed of 972 ships, with 9405 
mariners. The fleets, in jthe times treated of, were formidable only on account of 
their number. They generally consisted of a few galleys, and other ships, belonging 
to the crown ; of a squadron which the cinque ports were compelled, by charter, tp 
furnish as often as they were demanded by the king ; of galleys hired from foreign 
adventurers ; and principally of the merchantmen belonging to the different ports. 
For at this period the same vessel served alternately for the purposes of commerce 
and war : and a large ship, after having discharged its cargo, and taken on board a 
complement of forty mariners, forty armed men, and sixty archers, Mas equal to 
meet any enemy. The king claimed the right of purveyance of ships, as well as of 
other articles. As occasion required, he issued orders for the seizure of a certain 
number of vessels, sometimes of all that could be found in any of the English har- 
bours ; and at the same time appointed commissioners to press mariners and others 
into his service, till they had collected a sufficient number to man them. 



GENERAL HISTORY, 



81 



pernicious practice; he established a standard; and all 
foreign base money was cried down by proclamation, 
except " pollards and crokards," which were allowed to 
pass for a halfpenny each ; but in the above year, they also 
were prohibited. To render this measure more effectual, 
by retaining in the kingdom all the sterling coin and pre- 
cious metals, the king also issued writs, directed to the 
authorities of the chief ports in England, commanding them 
to allow no money, either English or foreign, nor any 
bullion, to be exported, without his own especial licenced. 
One of these writs was directed to the bailiffs of Poole. 

In the following year, we also find a writ, directed 
" ballivis et probis hominibus villse de la Pole," ordering 
the service of one ship, to be sent to the king at Berwick. 

In the Originalia, vol. i. p. 121, is a writ, dated 1302, ad« 
dressed to Thomas de Verblyngton and Peter de Donewych, 
in which it is recited that, although the towns of Seford, 
Shoreham, Portsmouth, Poole, Southampton, Wareham, 
Plymouth, Teignmouth, Bridgwater, Lyme, and three 
others, had agreed to send one ship each (Southampton 
two) to the Scottish war; yet these towns had not sent 
any ship, to the great contempt of the king, and manifest 
delay in finishing the war ; the persons to whom the writ 
is addressed are authorized to adjudge such punishment as 
they may think proper for the neglect. What punishment 
was inflicted remains unknown. 



* From the orders 
of England, Wales, 
Edward :— 

Dover 

Sandwich 

Romney 

Winchelsea 

Rye 

Hythe 

Faversham 

Hastings . 

Shoreham 

Seaford 

Portsmouth 

Southampton 

Falmouth 

Wareham 

Bristol 

Dartmouth 



issued on this occasion, we obtain the following list of the ports 
and that part of Scotland which was then under subjection to 



Lymington 

Weymouth 

Poole 

H amble 

Lyme 

Sidmouth 

Chichester 

Teignmouth 

Fowey 

Looe 

Bodwyn 

Haverford 

Carmarthen 

Caernarvon 

Lampadermaur 

Conway 



Chester 


Wainflect 


Bridgwater 


Saltfleet 


Cardiff 


Grimsby 


Oystermouth 


Hull 


Rochester 


Ravensere 


Gravesend 


Scarburgh 


Northfleet 


Tinemouth 


London 


Newcastle-upon- 


Harwich 


Tine 


Jpswich 


Bamburgh 


Dimwich 


Berwick-upon- 


Orford 


Tweed 


Yarmouth 


and 


Blackney 


Dunbar 


Lynn 




Boston 





M 



82 GENERAL HISTORY. 

An order for the bailiffs, &c, of Poole to prepare a ship 
to serve in transporting- the forces under the earl of Ulster, 
in the wars with Robert Bruce, was issued in 1310, 3rd 
Edward II.# 

Soon after the commencement of the fourteenth century, 
the barons and mariners of the cinque ports began to 
assume that undue authority, to which they were encou- 
raged by the privileges that had been bestowed upon 
them, and which was afterwards so extended, particu- 
larly during 1 the weak and troubled reign of John, as 
enabled them to defy the regal power, and dictate terms to 
their monarch. The seafaring people of Poole and other 
western ports resisted these encroachments at the outset, 
and protracted and violent disputes hence arose, which 
were frequently attended by bloodshed. These disputes 
attained such a height, that the king, Edward II., was 
obliged to interpose his authority ; and, in the year 1321, 
he issued the following writ on the subject: — 

" The king, to his dearly beloved and faithful Edmund, 
earl of Kent, constable of Dover castle, and keeper of 
the cinque ports, his most dear brother, or his lieu- 
tenants, greeting: — 

" Whereas we have understood that great dissention and 
dispute between the barons of our aforesaid ports and the 
men and mariners of the western parts, of the towns of 
Poole, Weymouth, Melcombe, Lyme, and Southampton, 
and other towns of the parts adjacent, exists, now anew 
sprung up ; and that murders, depredations, burnings of 
ships, and very many other injuries have taken place from 
that cause, and greater and more grievous, it is feared, 
will ensue, unless some remedy be speedily applied ; We, 
willing to obviate the evils aforesaid, by all the ways and 

* The following is the list of ports to which writs were sent on this occasion : — 
La Pole, to send 1 ship, Shoreham 1, Portesmue 1, Sutht' 2, Lymyton and Ermuth 
1, Wareham 1, Weymouth 1, Melcombe 1, Lyme 1, Exmuth &Excestr' 1, Tiengmuth 
1, Dertmuth 1, Plymmuth 1, Colecestre 1, Herewiz 1, Gippewiz 2, Donewiz 1, Or- 
ford 1, Jernemuth G, Jeraemuth petite 1, Synterte 1, Burnham and Holkham 1, Seint 
Botolf 1, Lenne 4, Grymesby 1, Ravensere 1, Hull 2, Scardeburg 1, Pavensie 1, 
Hertelpole 1, Nove Chastel sur Tyne 2, Neuby 1, Gloucestr' and Bristoll 2, Sumers 
Brugge waiter 1. 



GENERAL HISTORY. 83 

means in our power, and to give full justice for all injuries 
an v where sustained, do command ye, that in every one of 
the ports aforesaid, ye do cause to be forthwith publicly 
proclaimed on our behalf, and prohibited, that no man of 
the aforesaid ports, under forfeiture of all that may be 
forfeited to us, shall do, or cause to be done, injury to any 
men or mariners of the aforesaid ports, or to their ships, or 
other goods, either by land or sea, nor shall attempt any 
thing against the said men or mariners, by which our peace 
may be anywise violated or broken. Ye shall also cause 
to come before us and our council, at Westminster, on the 
fifteenth of St. Michael next ensuing-, six barons of the 
ports aforesaid, with full powers for the other barons of 
their ports to present their complaints, if they have any, 
against the men or mariners aforesaid; and to do, upon 
those complaints, and the injuries thence sustained, what 
may then happen to be ordained by our council, touching* 
them. 

" Witness the king at Westminster, the twenty-eighth day 
of August. 

" By the king himself and council."^ 



* " Rex, dilecto et ficleli suo Edmundo comiti Kane', constabulario castri sui 
Doverr' et custodi quinque portuum suorum, fratri suo carissirno, vel ejus 
locum teneules salutem. 

" Quia intellexiinus quod grandis disseucio et discordia inter barones nostros por- 
tuum predietorum et homines et marinarios parcium occidentalium de villis de la Pole, 
Weymouth, Melcombe, Lym, et Suthampton, et aliis villis parcium adjacencium, 
de iiove jam orta existit : et quod homicidia, depredaciones, et combustiones navium, 
de alia dampna quamplurima ea occasione suut subsecuta ; majoraque ac graviora 
timentur evenire, nisi cicius super hoc remedium apponatur ; nos, malis prodictis, 
omnibus viis et modis quibus poterimus, volentes obviare, et super dampnis hinc inde 
datis fieri justiciar complementum : 

" Vobis mandamus, quod in singulis portubus prcdictis publicc proclamari, et 
districts, ex parte nostra, faciatis inhiberi, ne quis predietorum portuum, sub foris- 
factura omnium que nobis forisfacere poterit, aliquibus hominibus seu marinariis de 
predictis villis, aut navibus, vel aliis bonis suis per terrain, vel per mare, dampnum 
l'aciat, vel fieri procuret; nee contra dictos homines seu marinarios, aliquid attemptct, 
per quod pax nostra poterit aliqualiter ledi, vel infringi. 

*' Venire eciam faciatis coram nobis et consilio nostro apud Westm', in quindena 
Sancti Michaelis proximo futura, sex barones de portubus predictis cum plena 
potestate, pro ceteris baronibus portuum illorum, ad proponendum querelas, si quas 
habeant, versus homines seu marinarios predictos ; et ad faciendum super querelis 
illis et dampnis exinde datis, quod tuuc per consilium nostrum de hiis contigerit 
ordinari. 

" Et habeas ibi nomina predietorum sex baronurn, et hoc breve. 
" T. R. apud Westm', xxviii. die Augusti, 

" Per ipsum Begem ct concilium." 

[Rymer, ii, pt. i, p. 456.] 



84 GENERAL HISTORY* 

In 1324, the king summoned Poole and the other maritime 
towns on the south coast, to assemble their largest ships at 
Portsmouth, manned and provided with landing bridges 
and " clays," for carrying soldiers and horses, at his 
expense, over to his duchy of Aquitaine.& 

In 1326, when the disastrous events that marked the 
close of the second Edward's reign were approaching their 
consummation, and that weak and unhappy monarch had 
to defend himself against the intrigues of a faithless queen 
and the Lancastrian faction, then abroad, we find that pre- 
cautionary writs were issued to the bailiffs and commonalty 
of the town of Poole, directing them to examine all letters 
coming from foreign parts, and to send such as might con- 
tain matter prejudicial to his majesty, his crown and dignity, 
to the king forthwith ; and also to arrest and keep in safe 
custody all persons whom they might see cause to suspect. 

By an inquisition taken June 7, 1340, 15th Edward III., 
on the petition of John Warren, earl of Surrey, then hold- 
ing the manor of Canford and Poole, and William Monte- 
acute, earl of Salisbury, who had the reversion of it, it was 
found that the burgesses of Poole had, from beyond the 
memory of man, received certain tolls from every ship 
coming into the port. This inquisition will be detailed in 
a future page. 

King Edward III. was the first sovereign of England 
who gave much attention to commerce and navigation, and 
by his care the industry of the kingdom was scarcely less 
extended at home than its glory and conquests abroad. He 
was the first English sovereign, since the reign of Alfred, 
who gained a naval victory in person, humbling the mari- 
time power both of France and Spain, when the king of 
the latter country had assumed the title of " lord of the 
English sea." For information and advice upon matters 



8 The following are the quotas ordered from each port: — "Poole, 4 vessels; 
Southampton, C ; Sandwich, 4; Portsmouth, 1; Winchelsea, 6 ; Rye, 2 ; Favenham, 
] ; Shoreham, 2 ; Seaford,2; Weymouth, 10; Hamclhoke, 1 ; Boldre, 1 ; Yarmouth,. 
< V I. of W.,) 2.— [Kymer 5 ii. pt. i, p. 552. J 



GENERAL HISTORY. 85 

of trade and shipping-, he was accustomed occasionally to 
assemble a species of commercial and maritime parliament, 
consisting" of merchants and ship-owners, deputies from 
the principal maritime towns, to whose opinion and autho* 
rity so much influence was given, that there is even an 
instance of a convoy duty having been imposed with the 
advice of the prelates, nobles, and community of merchants 
of the maritime towns. These deputies assembled in the 
metropolis to deliberate and advise ; and, as a new and 
powerful impulse was given to commerce and navigation 
at this epoch, it was probably owing to their councils and 
deliberations. The earliest date recorded of the summon- 
ing of one of these naval councils, is the 12th of February, 
1341, 15th Edward III., when we find a writ issued to the 
bailiffs and honest men of the town of Poole, directing 
them to prepare and furnish with men and ammunition, 
for war against the king's enemies, all the vessels of the 
said port of sixty tons and upwards; and commanding 
them also to send one of the most substantial and discreet 
men of the town, to the king, at Westminster, to be there 
on the Monday after Midlent Sunday, then next ensuing, 
to give information to the king and his council, touching 
the array of the said fleet, and to take such further orders 
as might be then deemed fit for the repulse of the enemies 
of the kingdom^. A similar council was convened in the 
following year, when a writ, dated April 15, 16th Edward 
III., was directed to the bailiffs of Poole, to the effect that 
the king, being desirous of taking the advice and counsel 
of the mariners and merchants of his kingdom, in instant 
council, on divers difficult business, specially touching 
his majesty and the state of his kingdom of England, — 

* Similar writs were forwarded to the following towns, with directions to send to 
the council the number of persons annexed : — 

Great Yarmouth, Gosford, Lynn, Winchelsea, Southampton, Plymouth, Dartmouth, 
Bristol, Kingston-upon-llull, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sandwich, — 2 each. 

Ipswich, Dover, If ye, Hastings, Weymouth, St. Botolph, Falmouth, Pevensey, 
Seaford, Shoreham, Hoke, Exmoufh, Teigrimouth, Fowcy, Kaveiioeie, Little Yar- 
mouth,—! each.— [Eymer, ii, pt. ii, p. 1150.] 



bb GENERAL HISTORY. 

commanded the said bailiffs to cause two of the better 
and more discreet of the sea-faring" men of their town, 
to come to Westminster, to give their counsel and advice 
on those matters, and to do what the king and council 
might see fit to order in that behalf. *fc In the year 
1344, a third council was summoned with the like intent, 
a writ, dated on the 6th February, being directed to the 
bailiffs of the town of Poole, commanding them to cause 
one " of the more sufficient men of the said town, and 
having the greater knowledge of the state of the ship- 
ping" of the kingdom, to attend at London, on the Monday 
after Midlent ensuing, " to give information to us and our 
council then and there assembled, on divers matters, 
touching the said shipping, and to do further what, by 
God ? s grace, may then and there be ordered, touching the 
same-f-." Attention was now given to maritime affairs as 
of high importance, in consequence of the three years' 
truce between England and France, which commenced in 



* "Rexballivis suis villa) de Pole. 

" Quia super arduis negociis, nos et statum regni liostri Anglise specialiter con- 
ccrneutibus, habere volumus avisamentum et concilium marinariorum et hominum 
maritirnorum ejusdem regni, in instanto concilio nostro quod apud Westm', ad diem 
Luna? proximo post festum sancti Marci Evangelistae proximo futurum, fecimus 
summoneri ; 

" Vobis mandamus firmiter injuugentes, quod venire faciatis duos de melioribus ct 
discretioribus homiuibus marinariis, villa? pra^dictse, apud Westm' ad diem predictum, 
vel infra duos dies proximo sequentes, consilium et avisamentum suum super 
pramissis impensuri, et facturi quod per nos et concilium nostrum contigerit ordinari 
in liac parte. 

" Ethoc, sicut nos et bonorem nostrum, ac salvationem dicto regni nostri diligitis, 
et vos ipsos erga nos indempnes servare volueritis, nullo modo omittatis." 

Similar writs were sent to the following ports, westward of the mouth of the 
Thames : — "London, It off', Maydenstone, Faversham, Sandwich', Dovorr', Hethc, 
Romney, Rye, Wynchelse, Dertemuth', Plummuth', Loo, Hastyng', Pevenese, 
Seford, Shorham, Suthainpton', Weymuth, Melcombe, Lym, Exon, Fowy and 
Polruan, Bristoll'." — [Rymer, ii, pt. ii, p. 1PJ3.] 

t Similar writs were issued to the authorities of the following ports to send the 
number of men annexed : — 

Great Yarmouth, London, — i each. 

Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Kingston-upon-Hull, St. Eotolph, Lynn, Ipswich, Sand- 
wich, Dover, Winchelsea, Chichester, Southampton, Exeter, Dartmouth, Plymouth, 
Bristol,— 2 each. 

Scarborough, Ravensrode, Grimsby, Dunwich, Colchester, Harwich, Orford, 
Maldon, Rye, Hastings; Gosford, Wainileet, Lyme, Seaford, Portsmouth, St. Helen, 
Melcombe, Pevensey, Romney, Exmouth, Falmouth, Sidmouth, Barnstaple, Wey- 
mouth, Ravcnsere, Blackney, Sborcham,— 1 each. — [Rymer, iii, pt. i, p. 4.] 



GENERAL HISTORY. 87 

1-343, and was employed by both monarchs in preparing 
for hostilities at its termination. Both looked to their 
naval means. The resources of England were not vet 
so available for maritime as for military service : the 
feudal system had made no provision for it, and the tenure 
upon which the sea ports held their privileges was too 
irregular, and felt to be too partial in its operation to be 
duly complied with. The king frequently found difficulty 
in procuring obedience to his orders. The complaint 
made by the maritime places was, that the keeping of the 
seas, though being for the general good, was not at the 
general cost; and that it ought to be at the king's charge, 
not at that of a part of the community. That this complaint 
was not made without a practical grievance, will appear 
from the circumstance, — not an unfrequent one, — that in 
]342, writs, issued to the bailiffs of Poole, and of other 
ports, directed them to cause " all owners, masters, and 
mariners," of their town, to bring " all their ships, well 
furnished, to Portsmouth," by a certain day, to transport 
to Brittany the forces under the command of the earl of 
Northampton. At the council, or naval parliament, as it 
might almost be termed, convened in 1344, it will be seen 
that representatives were summoned from many more 
places than on the former convocations. None of the 
proceedings, however, have been recorded. 

The measures adopted by Edward to improve the naval 
resources of the kingdom, were not altogether fruitless, as 
is shewn by the extent of the fleet with which he invaded 
Calais, in 1347-8. To this fleet Poole furnished 4 ships, 
manned with 94 mariners."^ 



* In the roll of king Edward's fleet at the siege of Calais, in the Cotton Library, 
(Tib. F. iii, 8,) and in Hackluyt's Collection of Voyages, pt. i, p. 118, copied from 
the king's wardrobe, we find the following proportion between the number of ships 
furnished by Poole and other ports : — 

Weymouth 20 ships 264 mariners 

or according to Hackluyt 15 263 

Poole . 4 94 

Lyme 4 . .»—. 62 

Wareham 3 ..... 59 



88 GENERAL HISTORY. 

It is stated by Speed and Holinshed, that Poole was 
made a garrison by Edward III., during his memorable 
wars with France. 

From the destructive pestilence that devastated Europe 
about this time, the town of Poole was one of the first to suffer, 
it being- on the coast of Dorset that that fearful calamity was 
brought into the kingdom. This pestilence, which was as 
general and fatal as any recorded in history, we first dis- 
cover in the empire of Cathai : thence we may trace its 
progress through different provinces of Asia, to the delta 
and the banks of the Nile : a south wind transported it into 
Greece and the Grecian islands : from which it swept the 
coasts of the Mediterranean, depopulated Italy, and crossed 
the barrier of the Alps into France. In 1348, " the seventh 
yeare after it beganne (we quote Stowe, 245), it came 
into England, and first beganne in the townes and portes 
joyning on the sea coasts, in Dorsetshire, where, even as in 
other countries, it made the countrey quite voyde of inhabi- 
tants, so that there were almost none left alive." It passed 
into Devonshire and Somersetshire, and finally spread over 
all England. This plague came in the midst of great 
prosperity, and is supposed to have been more destructive 
than any pestilence that has visited the world before or 
since. Of its victims many expired in the course of six 
hours, and few lingered more than two or three days, 



Bristol 22 ships 608 mariners 

Portsmouth 5 96 

London 25 662 

Plymouth 26 603 — ^- 

Seton \ 2 25 

Sidmouth 3 62 

The fleet was divided into the north and south fleets; the former consisting of 217 
sail, and 4521 men ; the latter of 493 sail, and 9630 men. Total 710 sail, 14,151 men. 
There were also 38 foreign ships, in which one from Ireland was included ; the others 
were 15 from Bayonne, 7 from Spain, 14 from Flanders, and 1 from Guelderland. 
The men onboard these foreigners amounted to 805. 

With the exception of Bristol and London, the ships from Poole must have been 
larger than those from any other place specified above, carrying on the average up- 
wards of 23 mariners ; those from Weymouth, 13; Lyme, 15; Wareham, 19 ; Ports- 
mouth, 19; Bristol, 27; London, 26; Plymouth, 23; Seton, 12; Sidmouth, 20. The 
Poole ships also exceeded the aveiage of the whole fleet ; that average giving but 20 
mariners to each vessel. 



GENERAL HISTORY. 89 

From man the exterminating malady extended to the brute 
creation; the carcases of sheep, horses, and oxen lay scat- 
tered in the fields. The labours of husbandry were neg- 
lected ; no courts of justice were opened ; the parliament 
was repeatedly prorogued by proclamation; and men, 
intent only on their own safety, fled from the care of the 
infected, and slighted every call of honour, duty, and hu- 
manity. When historians tell us "that scarce the tenth 
person of all sorts was left alive," we may suspect them of 
some exaggeration ; but it is easy to form some idea of the 
mortality, from the fact that all the cemetries in London 
were soon filled ; that sir Walter Manny purchased for a 
burial place, a field of thirteen acres, where the charter 
house now stands; and that the bodies deposited in it 
luring several weeks amounted to the daily average of 
two hundred. A similar appropriation of a field to this 
purpose is stated to have taken place at Poole, where a 
spot on the projecting slip of land, at Baiter, is still pointed 
out as the burial ground for the victims of the plague. 
The extent to which this pestilence prevailed in England, 
and the dread with which its ravages were apprehended 
by those whose means would permit their endeavours to 
fly from so direful an enemy, are pictured in a writ ad- 
dressed by the king to the bailiffs of Poole, and to the 
authorities of many other sea-ports, reciting that a consi- 
derable part of the population of the kingdom had died of 
the pestilence; that the treasury was almost exhausted; 
that the king understood that very many daily went abroad 
with all the money they could collect; that he feared, if such 
departure were tolerated, that the kingdom would soon be 
destitute as well of inhabitants as of money ; that he wished 
to prevent the danger that threatened those who travelled 
in foreign parts, and to provide for the safety of the king- 
dom and the people; and commanding, therefore, the 
bailiffs, that they allow no one, of whatever state or con- 
dition, to depart from the kingdom, without a special order 

N 



90 GENERAL HISTORY. 

from the king*, unless such person were a merchant, a 
notary, or a known messenger^. The consequences of 
the mortality are carefully detailed by the contemporary 
writers. At first the reduction in the number of consumers 
effected a proportionate reduction in the price of all mer- 
chantable articles. But famine, the usual attendant of 
great pestilence, closely followed ; and in the second year 
the prices rose with a rapidity and to a height which 
alarmed the government. 

The charter of William Monteacute, granted in the year 
1370, bestowed several important additional privileges on 
the inhabitants of Poole. 

In the commencement of the fifteenth century, this town 
suffered from a piratical invasion, in consequence of its 
connection with one of the celebrated naval leaders of that 
time ; and it may be interesting to record some particulars 
connected with this event. 

Henry Paye, who during the latter part of the fourteenth, 
and the commencement of the fifteenth centuries, took a 
prominent part in the naval transactions of the kingdom, 
had possessions in Poole, where he resided, and of which 
place, in all probability, he was a native. He was associ- 
ated with lord Berkeley in the command of the fleet of the 
cinque ports, at the time in which those celebrated ports 
were in the meridian of their power and authority. He 
was a man of great valour and enterprise, and the above 
fleet, when under his command, was very successful against 
the French, and in quelling the Welch revolt in favour of 
Owen Glendower. . His conquests were so numerous, that 
after one expedition, he brought home from the coast of 
Bretagne, 120 prizes, laden with iron, salt, oil, andRochelle 
salt. The " Cronica del Conde D. Pero Nino*' speaks of 
him as " a knight who scours the seas, as a corsair, with 
many ships, plundering all the Spanish and French vessels 
that he could meet with. This Arripay (for so has the 



R3 mer, iii, pt. 1, p. 191. 



GENERAL HISTORT. 91 

worthy chronicler hispaniolized the name of Harry Paye*^) 
came often upon the coast of Castile, and carried away 
many ships and barks ; and he scoured the channel of 
Flanders so powerfully, that no vessel could pass that way 
without being taken. This Arripay burnt Gijon and 
Finisterra, and carried off the crucifix from Santa Maria 
de Finisterra, which was famous as being the holiest in all 
those parts, (as in truth it was, for I have seen it,) and 
much more damage he did in Castile, taking many pri- 
soners, and exacting ransoms; and though other armed 
ships came there also from England, he it was who came 
oftenest-J-." The vigour and activity with which Paye 
carried on the irregular and somewhat piratical system of 
warfare pursued in that day, had inspired the enemies of 
the kingdom with a o-allina" dread of his name and a 
detestation of any thing connected with him ; and it is 
more to a personally vindictive feeling towards him, and to 
a desire of retaliation for the conquests he had effected, 
than to merely national hostility, may be traced the attack 
in 1406, from which Poole suffered severely, and which is 
the subject of the following' relation. 

In 1405, the French king applied to the king of Castile, 
Henrique III., for naval aid. That monarch ordered forty 
ships to be got ready with all speed, and to be aided with 
three galleys in Santander, appointing Martin Ruiz de 
Abendano to the command of the former, and Pero Nino to 
that of the latter. In consequence of some error, the gal- 
leys set sail without the ships, and proceeded to Rochelle, 
under the command of Pero Nino, afterwards Conde de 
Buelna, who is described as a man of high birth, and who 
had previouslv distinguished himself by his services in the 



* This instance of the amusing corruption of an English name is not a singular 
one ; and a similar mutation recorded about the same time may be quoted as an illus- 
tration. Sir John Rawkwood, an Englishman, who had served eminently in the wars 
against France, under the banners of Edward III., on their expiration, entered with 
several others into the service of the Italian states, when we find that contemporary 
writers converted his appellation into " Aucud" or "Agutus." 

+ Cronica del Conclc D. Pero Nino, pt. ii, c. 25, 26.— Southey, Nav: Hist: ii. 27. 



92 GENERAL HISTORY. 

Mediterranean. At Rochelle, the galleys were joined by 
two shallops, having" French archers and arbalisters on 
board, and by a French knight, with two galleys. This 
person, who is called in the chronicle of Pero Nino, Mosen 
Charles de Sabasil, was the Sieur de Seignelai, Charles de 
Savoisy, who had been brought up with Charles VI., and 
held the office of first chamberlain and chief cupbearer, 
and who, having been disgraced at court, took to the seas 
for the love of enterprise, and proposed to join company 
with Pero Nino, and try their fortune upon the English 
coast. After meeting with some adventures, in which their 
mode of proceeding betokened something like a piratical 
spirit of plunder, they reached the coast of Cornwall, and 
proceeded eastward along the coast, occasionally landing 
for the purpose of capture and plunder. On coming into 
the neighbourhood of Poole harbour, Pero Nino no sooner 
heard that he was near " Arripay V place of abode, than 
he determined to return the visits which that corsair, as he 
deemed him, had paid to the Spanish coast. Accordingly 
they entered the harbour, and came at day-break in sight 
of Poole. The town was not walled ; and the chronicler 
says there was a handsome tower with a cupola. Here 
the French commander thought it would be rash to attempt 
a landing; and when the Spaniard, as if the honour of his 
country required him to take some vengeance here, per- 
sisted in his purpose, Mosen Charles forbade any of his 
people to land with him. The Spaniards landed under 
the command of.Pero's kinsman, Fernando Nino, with 
orders not to encumber themselves with plunder, but to 
plant their banner before the place, and set the houses on 
fire. One large building was maintained awhile against 
them; but when, after a stout resistance, they forced an 
entrance, the defendants escaped at the back part ; and 
here the invaders found arms and sea stores of all kinds : 
they carried off what they could, and then set the store- 
house on fire. By this time, the English had collected, in 



GENERAL HISTORY. 93 

some force, archers and men at arms ; and having put 
themselves in array, they came so near, says the chronicler, 
that it might well be seen who was of a ruddy complexion, 
and who of a dark one. They had taken the doors out of 
the houses, which they contrived, by means of supports, 
to place before them as pavaises, to protect them against 
the cross-bow shot. Under this cover, the archers kept 
up a brisk discharge with such effect that the arbalisters 
dared not expose themselves while they stooped to charge 
their arbalists. Many were wounded, and those whose 
armour protected them, are described as fledged with 
arrows. Pero Nino, seeing his people in danger, and that 
they were beginning' to fall back, landed with the rest of 
his men; and the French then, notwithstanding their pre- 
vious determination, hastened with all speed, like brave 
men, to support him. He set up the cry of " Santiago ! 
Santiago V and the English, who, even bv their enemies' 
account, fought right well, were at length compelled to 
retreat, leaving among the slain, a brother of Arripay's, a 
gallant man of arms, who distinguished himself by his 
great exertions before he fell. The enemy having secured 
some prisoners, retired to their vessels, and proceeded 
towards Southampton"^. 

The particulars gathered relative to this attack, comprise 
several points of utility in regard to the present enquirv. 
Poole was evidently, at that period, a place of some im- 
portance and strength, for although thus attacked bv 
surprise at daybreak by a hostile force of no mean power, 
the inhabitants made so sturdy a resistance that the enemy 
only records the capture of the contents of one storehouse, 
and a few prisoners. The main object was far from having 
been fully accomplished. That the force was not con- 
temptible is clear from the fact, that the squadron fitted out 
by order of the Castilian monarch was most liberallv pro- 
vided. It was manned with the ablest men who could be 



Cronica del Conde D. Tcro Nino, pt ii, c. 27.— Southey, Nav : Hist: ii, 29. 



94 GENERAL HISTORY. 

found, either as soldiers or sailors; and money was not 
forgotten. The account also evidences that the old church 
and tower with a cupola had been previously erected ; but 
that the wall which surrounded the seaward side of the 
town, was of a subsequent date. The large building that 
was sacked and set on fire, was probably that since known 
as the town cellar. 

In the reign of Henry VI., Poole flourished greatly 
beneath the genial influence of courtly favour; owing, 
probably, much of the attention then bestowed on it, to the 
circumstance of the manor being' then vested in the con- 
nections of the monarch. Thus it was, doubtless, through 
the good disposition of the regent, Bedford, towards his 
good burgesses of Poole, that they obtained the letters 
patent, issued in the 11th year of that reign, under the 
authority of parliament. By this grant, Poole was elevated 
to be a port of the staple, and we find mention therein 
made of the insufficiency of the port of Melcomb, and also 
" how notable our town and port of Poole is inhabited, and 
the great multitude of people there is there." The inhabi- 
tants were authorised under this grant to fortify their town. 
The fortifications raised in consequence of this licence, 
appear to have been a wall and an embattled gate of stone, 
erected on the north of the town, which were frequently 
repaired, and ultimately rased on the restoration of the 
Stuarts, by order of Charles II., in pursuance of that 
policy, which had learnt from the valuable lessons of 
experience, how dangerous to absolutism was the power 
which fortified towns placed in the hands of disaffected 
subjects. The progress of alteration and improvement 
has long removed all trace of this wall ; but, until within 
the last few years the fosse with which it was protected, and 
which ran across the narrow isthmus at that side of the 
town, was distinctly traceable at either end : a short time 
will suffice to make its site a matter merely of tradition 
and history. A wall was also erected on the seaward 



GENERAL HISTORY. 95 

side of the town, which, we are told by Leland, was 
commenced by Richard III. Of this, at the time in 
which that topographer wrote, there were remaining but a 
small embattled gate and some of an embattled wall. 

This gate and a portion of the wall are still in existence, 
crossing a narrow lane, known as St. Clement's alley, near 
the quay, and may be traced westward through several 
stores. 

This monarch also, in the 31st year of his reign, 1453, 
granted by charter to the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and 
inhabitants of Poole, licence to hold a market on Thurs- 
days, and two fairs annually, one on the feast of St. Philip 
and St. James and seven davs folio wins', the other on All 
Souls' day and seven days following. Under this charter 
these fairs were free marts ; freedom from purveyance 
and from arrest, and a court of pied-poudre were granted. 

Richard III., we are told, considerably countenanced 
this place, and, in addition to the share borne by him in 
the erection of the town wall, he " promised large thinges 
to the town of Pooled." The usurper was probably in- 
duced to this course by a desire to improve those posses- 
sions which he appropriated to the advancemeut of his 
own revenues, on enforcing the confinement of the unfor- 
tunate Edward Plantao-enet. 

Henry, earl of Richmond, in prosecution of his claim 
to the crown of England, sailed from St. Malo, on the 
12th of October, 1483, with forty ships and a force of 
five thousand men, designing to make a descent on the 
western coast of England, where his partisans were then 
in arms, arrangements having been made for a general 
insurrection on his arrival. In the attempt to cross the 
channel, however, his fleet was dispersed by a violent 
storm that arose, and most of his vessels were compelled 
to put back ; but the earl's ship, weathering the tempest, 
arrived off Poole harbour. He found the coast lined with 



Leland, Itin. iii, 69. 



96 GENERAL HISTORY. 

men, but whether friends or foes, he could not satisfactorily 
determine. The intended revolt had been discovered by 
Richard, who, previously to the arrival of the earl, had 
succeeded in crushing the rising" in embryo, had taken and 
beheaded the duke of Buckingham, and dispersed the rest 
of the confederates. The forces of Richard appointed to 
guard the coasts had, therefore, instructions not to oppose 
the landing of Richmond, but to make signals to encou- 
rage him to leave his vessel ; and if he sent for intelligence, 
to pretend they were posted there by the duke of Buck- 
ingham to receive him. The earl, however, was too 
cautious to be entrapped by an artifice, which, if successful, 
would have thrown him entirely into the power of his 
relentless enemy. On his sending a boat to the shore with 
a communication, it returned with an answer which he mis- 
trusted, and as no other portion of his fleet arrived within 
sight, he " weighed up his anchor, halsed up his sails, and 
having a prosperous and streinable wind, and a fresh gale, 
sent even by God to deliver him from that peril, arrived 
safe in Normandy." $£ The tempest, which dispersed his 
fleet, had been his preservation ; for if he had effected a 
landing after the failure of Buckingham, the fortunes of 
the Tudors would, in all human likelihood, never have 
obtained that ascendant which brought with it to the nation 
so much evil and so much greater good. 

The issue of the field of Bosworth prevented the realiza- 
tion of the promises made to Poole by Richard III. ; and 
it would seem that his successor regarded with no partial 
eye a place favoured by his opponent, and at which he was 
himself so nearlv made the victim of stratagem : and we 
find accordingly, that throughout the reign of Henry VII., 
Poole is little mentioned, and suffered a temporary declen- 
sion. The duration of its commercial decline was, however, 
but brief; and its former course of gradual prosperity was 
recovered in the following reign. The privileges conceded 



* Holinshed, 419. 



GENERAL HISTORY. 97 

to the town bv the charters of other monarchs, had probably- 
fallen somewhat into desuetude, and they were all con- 
firmed by a charter granted in the 3rd Henry VIII, This 
kins', from the commencement of his reign, entertained 
intentions of instituting 1 hostilities with France, and therefore 
gave much attention to the defence of the southern coast ; 
and privileges were granted to many ports with a view of 
inducing the inhabitants to undertake defensive plans. It 
is likely that this confirmation of the ancient privileges 
of Poole was made that it might operate as such an 
inducement : and as the hostilities between England and 
France had not terminated in the 12th year of Henry's 
reig-n, it is fair to attribute to a similar motive, a royal 
grant then made to the burgesses and inhabitants of Poole, 
specially licensing them to purchase as much wood as they 
might need from theroval forests in Hampshire and Sussex, 
and to convey the same without let, disturbance, or contra-* 
diction. 

In the 18th year of Henry VIII., Sept. 4, 1526, by a 
charter from the lord high admiral of England, the ancient 
exempt admiralty jurisdiction of this port was confirmed. 

A grant, sanctioned by authority of parliament, was made, 
34th Henry VIII., 1542, licensing the mayor, burgesses, 
and inhabitants of the town and port of Poole, to erect, 
make, frame, and set up at, in, and upon the king's waste 
ground and common* within the said town called Bayter, 
in a place there most requisite and convenient, at their 
proper costs and charges, one good and sufficient wind* 
mill to serve the said town and port, and the burgesses and 
inhabitants of the same; and to take and have one hundred 
feet of assize square of the said waste ground for a convex 
nient hill to be made to set one windmill upon : and also 
like liberty and license to set one conduit head at Totnam, 
within the king's waste ground, without the said town of 
Poole, taking and having sixteen feet of assize square of 



• Tiie manor was at this time vested in the crown. 





98 GENERAL HISTORY. 

the same ground for the situation of the same conduit head, 
for the conveying' of fresh water for the serving of the said 
town, and to have also like free liberty to dig and draw in, 
by, through, and upon all places and ways thereunto most 
meet and convenient, with free course and recourse unto 
and from the same at all times hereafter for ever, yielding 
and paying therefor yearly to the king, his heirs and 
successors, one pepper-corn, if it be asked for. 

A well at Tatnam had been used and kept in repair by 
the town previously to this grant, as appears from an entry 
in an old book of accounts, from which we learn that in 
1540, the corporation made a payment " for the labour of 
two men to dig* about the well at Totnam." But after the 
issue of this grant, the well was greatly improved and en- 
larged, as under the date of June, 1545, we find entered, 
" Ther was pd. to Mr. Notherell towards the condyte, 
xiiijVz'." 

In ancient times the inhabitants of Poole served a beacon 
at Worbarrow, in the isle of Purbeck. Beacons were for- 
merly established along the coast as signals for the better 
securing the kingdom from foreign invasion. They gene- 
rally consisted of long poles, whereon were fastened pitch 
barrels to be fired by night, and to smoke by day, to give 
notice in a few hours to the whole kingdom of an approach- 
ing invasion. They were erected under the king's author- 
ity, by commissioners appointed under the great seal, who 
had also power to assess the adjoining hundreds for the 
maintenance of each beacon, and the keeping a needful 
watch in the time of danger. The duty of watching was 
imposed on the inhabitants possessed of certain substance, 
and who generally performed this duty vicariously, by 
" hoblers," men mounted on light horses, who remained 
at the station to give notice to the country on any alarm or 
the approach of an enemy. In an old manuscript, in the 
possession of the corporation, dated 1544, is a list of " all 
ther namys that of owlde tyme have been acustomyd and 



GENERAL HISTORY. 99 

owght to fynd hoblers to kepe the watche, in the tyme of 
warre, att the bekon callyd Werybarowe." After this 
follow lists of the hoblers who kept watch, &c. in the years 
1513, 1540, 1543, and 1544. 

When Philip and Mary, in conjunction with Spain, had 
entered into hostilities against France, measures were taken 
to put the south coast in a state of defence, so as to repel 
the threatened attempts at invasion by the enemy; and 
accordingly we find the following letter addressed by the 
lords of the privy council, "to our lovyng frynds the maior 
and his brethren of the towne of Poole," dated March 2, 
1557-8. 

" After our ryghte harty comendacions all be hyt we 
dowght not but you knowing that the enemy practisyth bv 
all wayes and menes the anoyaunce and hurt of all the 
quenes ma ies good subiects spesially upp° the sea costs 
will forese and have vigilant eye to the securtie and 
defense of your selfes and that towne eyt have we towght 
good too put yow in remembrans thereof and there vvyth to 
requier vowr assembljcg yourselues together to call such 
others before yow as be resyant and dwellyng w th in the 
p'syncts of your lyberteis and to tak order for the kepyng 
mannvng and strenghtheing of your fort and towne ther as 
may oest seme for the defense of the same and your selves 
and such as shalbe obstynat and refuse (as whe thynke 
ther wilbe none) to be contributors ther vnto resonaoully 
for his porcion whe will yow to s'tefy vs therof ande so 
bynde them in obligacion to aper before vs to anns' the 
same this fare ye well from the corte the second of M'ch. 
a 1557." — Signed by Winchester, T. Sussex, Pembroke, 
Anthony Montagve, F. Clyntton, Edward Hastings, T. 
Darcy, Rutland. 

It appears, from the charter granted to the town in the 
10th year of the reign of Elizabeth, that this place at that 
time laboured under one of those temporary depressions to 
which commercial towns have always been peculiarly sub- 
ject, and which a state of almost continued warfare and 

trouble would naturallv induce; and the observations of 

L.oFC. 



100 GENERAt HISTORY. 

Camden and Coker^ on this subject are in part confirmed 
by the testimony of the official record. The grant of this 
charter constitutes the most important event in the political 
history of the town. It invested Poole with the dignity, 
and endowed it with the privileges, of a county corporate, 
and by the careful attention which it bestowed on the en- 
couragement of commercial transactions, gave a vigour and 
permanence to the footing which the port thenceforth 
assumed. 

During the sixteenth and the early part of the seventeenth 
centuries, a very considerable trade in beer was carried on 
between this town and the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, 
which were supplied with that beverage from hence. 
Reference to this trade is found in the proceedings between 
the earl of Huntingdon and the town in 1610; and we find 
previously a course of protracted litigation between some 
of the brewers and the corporation, who claimed a duty on 
the beer brewed in the town. In these contests, one Nich- 
olas Curry appears to have performed the part of agitator- 
in-chief. He was one of those unsettled and turbulent 
characters, of which almost every town in every age fur- 
nishes some sort of specimen, who, — partly from a love of 
notoriety, partly from the influence of discontented feelings, 
which seek to inoculate society with their own disease, and 
still more, perhaps, from an indulgence of rankling envy, — ■ 
are ever found resisting authority, and stimulating amongst 
the mass of the population, a spirit of dissatisfaction, of 
restlessness, and contentious opposition. In the possession 
of such a spirit, Poole appears not to have been deficient 
at any period of which record has come down to our 
time : and Nicholas Curry had little difficulty in exciting it 
into action. It appears that the ancient revenues of the 
corporation not having been sufficient for the necessary ex- 
penditure, an order was obtained from the privy council, 
/, Mary, authorizing the inhabitants to assemble together 



Camden, Brit : Dorsit.—Cokcr, Dorsrt, 8.3. 



GENERAL HISTORY. 101 

for the purpose of levying such local taxes as might be 
most convenient ; in consequence of which it was agreed 
to levy an impost upon beer brewed by the common brew- 
ers, to the amount of 4s. a brewlock^, being about Id. a 
kilderkin. In the reign of Elizabeth, a complaint was 
made to the privy council by a portion of the inhabitants, 
styling themselves "the inhabitants and poor commons," 
alleging that the corporation had laid upon them grievous 
taxations and exactions, whereof they affirmed they had 
praved to be relieved, or else to be suffered to make their 
provisions elsewhere, which the corporation refused, and 
made benefit thereof to themselves, and did not employ 
it to any good purpose, or to the reparation of any de- 
cayed place or defence ; and also they complained of a 
new charge upon meal and other grain ; and further charged 
the corporation with having imprisoned the said com- 
plainants, either for complaining to any others, or without 
any cause or offence. The corporation, in their answer to 
this complaint* stated that the town being an ancient port 
and well replenished with ships and mariners, so the 
havens, ditches, walls, church, quay, and other places were 
very chargeable to be kept in repair, towards the defray- 
ing whereof and the common burthens of the town, they 
(the corporation) had not above £12 yearly rent, which 
was insufficient to defray the charge even of the necessary 
officers of the town ; which having been considered by the 
council of the late queen Mary, it had been ordered that 
the inhabitants should assemble and make such taxes as 
might be thought meet to defray the said charges ; that in 
compliance with this order, the mayor, burgesses, and 
commonalty assembled, and finding the estate of the in- 
habitants to be very poor in ability, as they still continued, 
and therefore not able to raise any tax upon merchandize, 
as they had been accustomed to do, and considering what 



* "Brewlock'' — bbaunum, — a brewing: the whole quantify brewed at one time; 
for which, in many manors, toll was paid, 



102 GENERAL HISTORY. 

great charges they had been at in procuring necessary fuel 
as well for the brewers as the other inhabitants, without 
any charge unto them, the corporation thought it most 
convenient to impose a tax upon such as should buy beer of 
the common brewers of the town, not exceeding four shil- 
lings on every brewlock, containing three tuns of beer or 
thereabouts, being after the rate of one penny a kilderkin, 
which was the only tax imposed upon the inhabitants, and 
had been applied to the repairing of the havens, &c. ; they 
denied that they had refused the inhabitants leave to make 
their provisions elsewhere ; and, as to the tax on meal"^, 
they alleged that it had been willingly paid by the millers 
and others frequenting the market with grain, in considera- 
tion of having a market house provided for their accom- 
modation by the corporation ; they also denied the charge 
of imprisonment, and complained that some of the inha- 
bitants had of late contemned the magistracy and govern- 
ment of the town. The " inhabitants and poor commons" 
put in a reply to this which is remarkable but for its 
quaintness. The consequence of these proceedings was 
that a commission was issued by the privy council, directed 
to George Trenchard, Thomas Hanam, George Turberville, 
and Richard Sidwaye, esquires. These commissioners 
repaired to Poole, Feb. 21, 1582, and having heard both 
parties and their witnesses, came to a determination to 
repeal all former taxations, as well on beer as on meal, and 
to the end that the town debts might be satisfied, with all 
necessary charges for the provision and maintenance of the 
town, haven, quay, walls, &c, it was adjudged that all 
brewers of beer or ale within the town and persons bring- 
ing ale or beer into the town should pay one penny per 
kilderkin; and that to defray the expenses incurred in 
building the market-house, a general contribution should 
be forthwith equally levied on the inhabitants. The order 



* This tax was three quarters of a wine pint on every bushel of grain or meal. At 
that time a pitched corn market was held in the town. 



GENERAL HISTORV. 103 

of the commissioners was confirmed by the privy council, 
Dec. 17, 1584 : and a further confirmation was made in 
1585. But notwithstanding this, Nicholas Curry and others 
refused to obey the order, and had divers tumultuous 
proceedings in resistance thereof; on which the council 
again interfered, and ordered the mayor and his brethren 
to apprehend the said Curry and others and keep them in 
custody until they should conform. In the corporation 
records are many entries of the compositions between the 
brewers and the corporation, by which the former agreed 
to pay a fixed sum per the brewlock, instead of one penny 
the kilderkin. This duty appears to have been paid up to 
1694. 

A commission for a general muster of the town of Poole 
having been issued in 1573, a census of the population was 
taken by Robert Nicholas and Dennis Howse, constables, 
in May, 1574, and is still preserved, from which we are 
enabled to institute a comparison between the relative im- 
portance of the town in regard to the population of the 
kingdom at that time, and its present position in that re- 
spect. By the above census, it appears that the total 
number of inhabitants was 1373, of whom 165 were 
householders and under-tenants. The population of Eng- 
land about this time appears, from a loose sort of census 
taken in 1588, to have been about 4,400,000 ; so that the 
population of Poole, as compared with that of all England, 
was as 1 to 3204 ; whilst, by the census of 1836, the popu- 
lation of the town, subjected to the same comparison, was 
as 1 to 2026. This census of 1574 was doubtless taken 
partly with a view to the more efficient manning of Brownsea 
castle, as one of the many measures adopted to put the 
south coast in a state of strength, in preparation for the 
hostilities with which the kingdom was threatened ; for at 
the end of the general census is a list of 116 names of 
those " that are to attend to svrve at the castell of Brown- 
sea/' To this census is also added a list of the owners of 



104 GENERAL HISTORY. 

ships and ballingers belonging' to the town, together with 
the names of such ships and ballingers, twenty in number. 
It likewise gives an account of thirteen poor people in the 
alms house, and six in the alms house in west street. 

Throughout the reign of Elizabeth, she was careful in 
attending to the state of the ports, and encouraging and 
securing navigation ; and, under her auspices, by the 
wisdom of her councillors and the gallantry and talents of 
the brave naval heroes who gave such lustre and renown to 
her sway, the navy and the commerce of the kingdom 
made rapid progress towards that proud pre-eminence they 
have so long occupied amongst nations. With other 
measures adopted with this view, strenuous efforts were 
made to repress those piratical expeditions which the 
mariners of all nations down to that time had been too 
wont to undertake. In 1577-8, a commission under the 
great seal was issued, directed to the mayor of Poole, 
William marquis of Winchester, Thomas viscount Howard 
of Bindon, sir Henry Ashley, sir Matthew Arrundell, sir 
John Horsey, sir John Yonge, the recorder of Poole, 
George Trencher, and William Hussey, esquires ; — reciting 
that divers ill disposed persons had of late in sundry 
vessels and ships frequented the seas upon the coasts of the 
realm, robbing and spoiling honest quiet merchants and 
others, which pirates were victualled and furnished by per- 
sons residing near or within the havens, creeks, or landing 
places of the realm, taking the stolen goods of the pirates 
in exchange ; — appointing the above commissioners to pre- 
vent such enormities being used in the havens, creeks, and 
landing places of the town of Poole ; — directing them to 
choose honest, discreet, and trusty persons, dwelling within 
or near every of the said havens, creeks, and landing 
places of the said town, for the purpose of such preven- 
tion ; to repair once every month to such havens, &c, to 
ascertain how the deputies performed their duties ; — and 
empowering them to issue precepts to the sheriff to empannel 



GENERAL HISTORY. 105 

juries to try offenders. A similar commission was issued in 
1593, directed to the mayor of the town, Giles Escourt, 
esq., recorder, William Newman, William Green, John 
Rogers, and William Dyker, with additional power to rig, 
arm, furnish, array, and set forth any ship or ships, bark 
or barks, or other vessel, for arresting and apprehending 
the pirates and rovers, and to try them. 

In 1584, Dec. 28, a commission was sent down to the 
port of Poole, from the lords of the privy council, directed 
to the mayor and others, and instructing them to allow no 
person to pass out of or into the realm, unless upon due 
examination ; to take bonds of the masters and owners of 
ships that they would not convey unlicensed passengers ; 
and to arrest suspected persons. This commission appears 
to have been fully acted upon ; many proceedings con- 
sequent thereon are recorded; and many letters are 
preserved that passed between the council and the com- 
missioners. In the following year a general embargo 
was laid upon shipping, which was the occasion of Nicholas 
Curry again acting a conspicuous part. A complaint was 
made against him of stirring up the people to resist the 
orders of the mayor and council of the town ; and he was 
afterwards apprehended on suspicion of an intention to 
visit the dominions of the king of Spain, but was liberated 
on parole. 

The orders in council issued about this time for the 
restraint of shipping gave rise to a question of disputed 
jurisdiction between the authorities of Poole and the officers 
of the vice-admiral of Dorset: and these disputes led, in 
one instance, to an unfortunate collision, attended with loss 
of life. On the 4th of February, 1589, an order was 
issued by the lord high admiral of England " for the staye 
of all shippinge within the ports and uppon the sea costs of 
this realme in respect of some speciall syrvice to be donne, 
as shall hereafter appeare;" and the vice-admirals of the 
maritime counties were accordingly commanded "to make 



106 GENERAL HISTORY. 

staye and to contynewe the restrainte of all such- shippes^ 
barcks, and other serviseable vessels as are or shalbe founde 
within the havens and ports of their severall jurisdictions ;■ 
and in casse there shalbe any vessells fraighted and laden 
readye to go forthe in short voiages, and maye retorne 
before the first of Marche next, upon signification from the 
said vice admiralles made by their letters to the privy 
council or the lord admirall of the burden and qualytye of 
the shippes, to whom they appartayne, and to what places 
they are bounde, consideracion shalbe hade to lycence 
them to p 'forme ther pretendid voyadge so as they may 
return before the daye prefixed." In pursuance of these 
instructions, Francis Hawley, esq., vice-admiral for the 
countv of Dorset, then residing 1 at Corfe Castle, sent the 
following warrant to the officers at Poole : — 

" By vertue of the late restraynte this present daye 
recevyd bearinge the tenor of the firste and with more 
vehemency from theLo. Admyrall and the reste of my 11. of 
here ma ies most honorable cownsell, and for as much as I 
hold it good for the better execucion thereof, that as well 
your towne and countye of Poole as the castell be admo- 
nyshede thereof, I doo therfore chardge you and in here 
ma ies name requyere you and everye of you that you suffer 
not any barcke, shippe, or vessell, whatsoever, or whence 
soever to passe owt your porte, other then in small vessells 
from porte to porte onlye within this realme, and that 
uppon good bands before taken in here ma ies costom 
howsse ther of the m r and owner of any sudie vessell, and 
if in any casse vou shall fynd cawse why, then doo I by 
vertewe of the aforesayde requyer you to take away the 
saylles of all suche shippes, barcks, and vessells, which you 
shall suspecte, and so making no doubt that you or any of 
you in regarde of the greate importance will faylle in the 
p'misses I bid you hartelye farewell. From the castell of 
CorfFe, in haste, the x th of Februarye, 1589. 

Your very lovynge ffrynde, 
Fra. Hawley." 

"To my worshipfuil freends the mayor, 
costomer, and other her ma ties 
officers in Poole." 



GENERAL HISTORY* 107 

The officers of Poole, on receiving this warrant, 
gave to Walter Meryatt, owner and master of the bark, 
' Bountiful Gift/ license to sail for London, and with the 
view of securing a safe passage by Brownsea castle, then 
occupied by Walter Partridge, under the orders of Mr. 
Hawley, the following* warrant was sent to Partridge, by 
the hands of Meryatt : — 

" Thes are to let you to understande that the bearer 
hereof, Walter Meryatt, m r of a barcke callyd the Bountifull 
Gyfte, bound for London, laden with coperos for Mr. 
Phillipe Svnythe hath entered into bande here to dis- 
chardge ytt at London. Thes are to praye you to p'mitt 
here to passe withowt any your lette or molestacions. 
From Poole, this xi th of Februarye, 1589. 

Richard Sidwaye, coll. 
Nicholas Symson, comtro. 
Robert Gregorye, sercner." 

* ; To the goonner att the 
castell of Bro-\vnseye." 

On reaching the castle, this warrant was presented to 
Partridge, who disputed its sufficiency and refused to 
allow the vessel to pass unless with the production of a 
license under the hand of Mr. Hawley. Meryatt, however, 
attempted to pass, and two shots were fired at his vessel 
from the castle, the second of which struck her between 
wind and water, and so severely wounded Meryatt and one 
of his men, William Drake, that they died within a few 
hours. At an inquest held on the bodies before the 
coroners for the town and county of Poole, a verdict of 
wilful murder was returned against Walter Partridge, who 
was tried at an admiralty court, held at Corfe Castle, when, 
as we learn from an old record, he " was condemnyd of 
manslawter, and hee could not have the benyfytt of his 
booke to saff his lvff, becawsse of a statut that is, that any 
matter of fellony doonn uppon the sea, he cannot have his 
booke." Whether, being thus denied the benefit of clergy, 
the convict was executed, or w r hether he was pardoned, 
does not appear. 



108 GENERAL HISTORY* 

Before this transaction, there appear to have been re- 
peated disputes between Partridge and the people of 
Poole, as to the right of conveying passengers to and from 
the north and south havens*^ 

When Elizabeth assisted the states of the Low Countries in 
their hostilities with Spain, Poole was the port of embarka- 
tion for three hundred soldiers, levied in the counties of 
Somerset and Dorset, and who sailed hence for Flushing 
in four ships* 

In 1594, rumours were abroad that a second and more 
formidable armada had been completed, and intelligence 
came from many quarters that the conquest of England 
would be again attempted. Upon this men were levied in 
all the maritime counties, and a watch and ward appointed 
to be kept upon the sea coast* 

The establishment of the protestant faith under Elizabeth 
was not unaccompanied by that extreme degree of hostility 
between the adherents of the contending doctrines which is 
too frequently the attendant of polemical difference, though 
the great numerical preponderance of the protestants 
effectually prevented any appeal to the sword. The fol- 
lowers of the church of Rome, though a minority, were, 
however, actively engaged in endeavours to prepare the 
mind of the people for a purposed restoration of the papal 
faith — an event which a little reflection on the ancient 
hereditary spirit of resistance to the progress of that faith 
ever manifested by the English nation might have shewn to 
be impracticable. In furtherance of this project, schools 
were established in France and Spain, for the education of 
English youth in the Romish doctrines, which they were 
afterwards to import and spread amongst their country- 



* At a court of admiralty, held Aug. 25, 1581, the jury presented "that the goon- 
ner of Bronkseye castell doth moleste the inhabitants of the towne and will not suffer 
them to passe any p'sons from northaven pointe to southaven pointe butt doth 
threaten them to shoote att them and vyolentlye doth take ther monye from them 
wh' is not onlye a greatt hinderaunce to poore men that were woonte to gayne monye 
that wayes butt also an infrynginge of our liberties wherefore wee thincke ytt verye 
necessarye to be remcdyd," — Book of the Admiralty Court. 



GENERAL HISTORY. 109 

men.3? These proceedings afford a justification for many 
of the severe measures adopted by the queen. In order to 
put a stop to this species of emigration, she issued commis- 
sions for the examination of persons going abroad, and the 
apprehension of suspected persons. The commission for 
the county of Dorset, of which a copy was sent to the 
mayor and other officers of Poole, so distinctly developes 
the evils which it was sought to remedy, that we subjoin a 
copy of it : — 

" To or' verie lovinge friendes sir Richard Rogers, sir 
George Trenchard, and sir Ralfe Horsey, knights, and 
Harry Hawleighe, esquire, vice admirall of the countie of 
Dorsett, and the mayor and other officers of the seuerall 
porte townes. 

" After our verie hartie comendacions, her ma tie beinge 
informed that for want of due care and regarde in the offi- 
cers of the ports in the maritane countries who ought to 
looke to such as goe into the p'tes beyonde the seas, or 
arryve heere from thence and throughe the corrupcion of 
some maisters of shippes and of small* barkes being prac- 
tized with by semynaries and fugitives and other lewde 
p'sons to that end not onlie manie youthes are dailie con- 
veyed forthe of this realme vnto the seminaries beyonde the 
seas wher they are not onely brought up in erronieus doc- 
trynes but verie manie of them being infected both in 
religion and alsoe in evill affection to her ma tie and the State 
are sent and doe retowrne from thence and soe disperse 



* One of these schools was founded at St. Omer, and the intent of their establish- 
ment is -well described in the following extract from Historical Collections by Jean 
Hendricq, citizen of St. Omer, from 1594 to 1605 : MS. in the library at St. Omer. 

" 1602. The house in which the English children live, was built and rented by the 
catholic king of Spain towards the year 1592, who was then only prince of Spain. 

" At present there are above one hundred and sixty English children of good 
families, which are sent here secretly by their parents who are faithful catholics, that 
they may receive a good education, and learn latin under the discipline of father 
Giles Scondoncq, a learned and excellent Jesuit, who, assisted by several English 
fathers, has filled the house so completely, that there has been added to it the house 
which belonged to the old dowager countess of Roeux, so that it is a pleasure now to 
go and see it, with the chapel, which he afterwards built, which is very handsome, 
Sec, &e. 

" The English children, after they have finished their education here, and after 
having learned rhetorick, are sent into Spain to finish their studies; and, according 
to their capacities, they are admitted to the ecclesiastical orders ; others are placed in 
different situations; so, being established, they may bring forth good fruits among*! 
their countrymen, who are honied Hujiuenots." 



110 GENERAL HISTORY. 

themselves into divers p'ts of the realme to seduce her 
ma ties subiects and to sowe the seede of discontente and re- 
bellious humors whereof some have been wroughte to 
attempte most horrible practizes even against the sacred 
p'son of her ma tie This of late beinge fminde so comon 
as weekelie there hath bene some sent up hether vnto vs 
that were taken in seu'all p'ts of the realme to her ma ties 
great charge and yet more doe escape and verie manie are 
suffred dailie to goe over the Seas that afterwarde become 
evell affected and daungerous p'sons to the estate To 
meete with this inconvenience it is thought meete as the 
like heeretofore hath bene done not onelieto renewe a strict 
charge and comandement to the mayors and officers of the 
seu'all porte townes to have espesial care to suffer none 
heerafter to passe ouer the seas but knowne m'chants ther 
facto rs or other p'sons knowne vnto them to be meete to be 
p'mitted to goe in trade of m'chandise or that have lawefull 
Iycence or that are sent for occasions in her ma ties service 
and affaires And to staie all others that shall attempte to 
passe over the seas, and to p'sent them to the comyssion's 
appointed for that p'pose and in like manner to take a strict 
viewe of all those that shalbe brought into the realme from 
any p te beyonde the seas & to staie suche of them as are to 
be suspected, to be brought alsoe before the sayd comys- 
sion's to be by them examined, accordinge to such direc- 
tion as is given them in that behalfe to thende that as well 
suche youthes as are conveyed forthe of the realm beyonde 
the seas as the seminaries Jesuits and other fugitives that 
come over hether, maie be app'hended, examined, and 
eoiii vtted to prison to be proceeded w th all accordinge to the 
lawe, and as ther seu'all offences shall deserve Choice 
is made of yow heerbie givinge to yow or anie tvvoe or 
more of yow full power and aucthoritie to call before yow 
and to examyne all those that shall lande in anie the portes 
creeks havens and harbers in that countie of Dorsett, or 
that shall attempte to goe forthe of the realme w th out 
licence not beinge m'chants knowne ther factors or mar- 
ryn's or suche other p'sons as lawefullie maie passe or 
shalbe thought fitt to be suffred to goe to and froe into this 
realme And for vo r better p'ceedings in this service we 
have caused certeyne instruccons to be conceaved and sett 
downe w ch yow are to observe in the course of theise exa- 
minacons with those that shalbe brought before yow and 
p'ccdings whervnto we doe referre yo w and earncstlie doe 



GENERAL HISTORY. Ill 

praie vow that yow will vse ext'ordinarie care heerin as in 
a matter that concerneth greatlie the estate and goode of 
the realme and wherin yo r diligent endeavors maie doe 
great and acceptable service so we bid yow hartelie fare- 
well. From the court at Whitehall, the xxiij th of Decern^ 
ber, 1599. 

" Yo r verie lovinge frindes 

"Jo. Cant. Tho. Egerton, C. S. Tho. Buckhurste 
" G. Hunsdon Ro. Northe 

" Ro. Cecill J. Fortescue Jo. Popham." 

The following" is an abstract of the instructions annexed 
to the commission. 

1. The commissioners to appoint a place of meeting 
where they may take security of masters of vessels, that 
that they will not land or take on board any passengers 
but in the open port towns ? — offenders to be imprisoned 
one month. 

2. Before being landed or embarked, the number of 
passengers to be specified to the searcher or other officer 
of the ports. 

3. Suspected persons to be examined before the com- 
missioners. 

4. Mode of examination prescribed : and the oath of 
allegiance to be tendered : and if this be refused, and no 
good account given of themselves, to be committed to 
prison, examined, whether they be priests or .Jesuits, or in 
what seminary they have been, and searched as to what 
they carry about them. 

5. If young men, to be examined as to by whom, and 
under what guidance they go abroad. 

6. The result of the examinations to be sent by letter to 
the lords of the privy council. 

A practice appears to have formerly prevailed in this 
port, of levying the tenth quarter of all grain shipped 
here, for the relief of the poor of the town. This practice, 
if it did not take its origin from, was at least sanctioned by, 
the act 3rd Eliz., c. iii. It appears to have been resisted 
after the passing of the act 43 Eliz., but by orders received 
from the lord high treasurer of the kingdom, by com- 



112 GENERAL HISTORY. 

mand of the privy council, dated 22nd Dec, 1603, and 
Oct., 1604, it was directed that the tenth quarter of grain 
should be set aside for the relief of the poor as formerly. 

In the parliament of 1614, the commons asserted their 
power by refusing- the supplies required by the monarch, 
on which the latter, in the exercise of a dormant prerogative, 
had recourse to the system of forced loans from his sub- 
jects ; and we find a letter to the authorities of Poole from 
the lords of the privy council, demanding a loan of money 
or plate, dated July 4, 1614; but no record is found of 
the degree of success attending this demand. 

Another expedient for raising money to meet those ex- 
penses of government, for which an empty exchequer and 
a recusant parliament furnished no requisite supplies, was 
undertaken in 1619, under circumstances which assume 
somewhat of the appearance of false pretences. Under 
date of Feb. 7, 1618-9, a letter was sent by the lords of 
the privy council, to the mayor of Poole, which recited 
that a petition having been presented to the king from the 
merchants and owners of ships trading to the Straits and 
other places, representing the spoil done by pirates at sea, 
and especially by those of Argier and Tunis, who were 
grown to such strength and height of robbery, that they 
had within a few years taken from the petitioners above 
300 sail of ships, with their cargoes, and captured many 
hundreds of his majesty's subjects, and praying for relief 
and prevention, his majesty had referred the matter to his 
council, who thereupon recommended a conference of the 
merchants of London, by whom it had been agreed that 
£40,000 should be raised by the merchants and owners of 
shipping at that port ; on which the lords of the council, 
setting forth how much the merchants of the west country 
were interested in the business, required the mayor to call 
together the merchants and owners of shipping in Poole, 
and impart unto them his majesty's purpose to extirpate 
utterly these pirates ; and to direct them to set down in a 



GENERAL HISTORY. 113 

gross sum what they would contribute towards this service 
the council intimating an expectation that such sum would 
not be less than £100 for the two years next ensuing, and 
that £50 would be ready by the 1st of April next. The 
answer of the mayor stated that the merchants and owners 
of shipping were willing to contribute something towards 
the purpose; but, considering that the town was poor and 
had lately sustained great loss by casualties at sea, and had 
not above one mere merchant adventurer, the adventures 
of the town not being in any staple, but in fishing voyages 
for the Newfoundland and so home, they deemed £50 
sufficient for their contribution, which sum they were ready 
to raise. In the reply of the council the whole sum was 
ordered to be raised, but not to be confined to the merch- 
ants and owners of shipping, but to be equally levied upon 
all the chief traders of the town. The first instalment 
having been duly paid, the expedition was relinquished ; 
but no portion of the advance was returned. 

In the instances just cited, we may trace the early pro- 
gress of those contests between the growing power of 
parliament and the declining prerogatives of the crown, 
that marked the reigns of James I. and Charles I., and led, 
under the latter monarch, to the lamentable events of a 
lono- and bloody domestic warfare, which ended in the 
violent death of the king", and in throwing 1 the nation into a 
state of anarchy. It is not the province of this work to 
enter into a minute enquiry of the nature and grounds of 
these contentions. It will suffice for our purpose to observe 
that they arose naturally from the gradual progress of 
society and civil liberty. The freedom of tone assumed by 
the parliament alarmed the crown, which endeavoured to 
check it by the more stringent application of prerogative; 
this, in its turn, being met by a still greater firmness on the 
part of the parliament and by repeated refusals to vote the 
supplies required for the purposes of government. The 
king", in different instances, invaded the privileges and 



114 GENERAL tal'STORY. 

attempted to controul the power of the parliament, fre- 
quently dissolving- it in displeasure and governing twelve 
years without it. During* the disputes, various expedients 
were resorted to in order to obtain money, which were not 
in accordance with the spirit of the constitution, and were 
especially displeasing to the ideas of civil liberty then 
prevailing. Amongst these expedients we trace, in the 
instances given above, the commencement of the two more 
prominent, which afterwards attained so great a height 
under the denominations of loans and ship-money. By 
Charles I., the former were raised by letters, under his 
privy seal, sent into the different counties of England, 
directed to those who were supposed to be best able to 
lend, requiring, by way of loan, such sums as each was 
arbitrarily taxed at. These letters were accompanied bv 
others from one of the king's servants, exacting an immedi- 
ate attention to his majesty's requisition, under the threat of 
being summoned before the king in person. The terrors 
held forth in these requisitions were not meant to raise 
vain fears; but were actually productive of severe evils to 
those who opposed this measure. In London, some alder- 
men, who refused to deliver in a list of those who in their 
wards might be judged able to lend, were committed to 
prison; and divers gentlemen throughout the kingdom 
who denied the loan were thrown into gaols. 

The ship money was a pecuniary commutation of that 
maritime service which the sovereigns of England had 
been anciently accustomed to require of their sea-faring 
subjects, but which the gradual contraction of the royal 
prerogative had long rendered obsolete. It was re-intro- 
duced by James I., in a somewhat uncertain shape by the 
letter of the privy council, in 1618, for the levy of means 
to reduce the Turkish pirates ; and, in 1626, Charles I. 
sent to London and all other seaport towns, as Poole, 
Weymouth, Lyme, &c, with the assistance of the contri- 
bution of the adjoining counties, to furnish ships to guard 



GENERAL HISTORY. 115 

the seas: the deputy lieutenants and justices of the 
peace for the county of Dorset excused themselves by a 
petition, alleging that the case was without precedent ; but 
their excuse was not allowed. In 1634, ship money was 
formally demanded on writs issued to the maritime 
comities only, each county being rated at a particular sum, 
which was afterwards divided and assessed upon the towns 
and individuals of property. In 1635, writs were issued 
to all the counties, each writ being accompanied by a letter 
from the lords of the council to the high sheriff, with 
instructions for levying" and assessing the counties towards 
the furnishing of 45 ships and their charge. These letters 
were dated the 12th of August. Dorsetshire was to furnish 
one ship of 500 tons, charged upon the county at £5000 ; 
and the lords of the council proceeded to direct that " to 
prevent difficultie in dividinge the assessment vpon the 
corporate townes wee baveinge informed o r selves the best 
wee may of the present condicion of the corporate townes 
and what proportion of that charge each of them is fit to 
beare doe conceive that the towne and countie of Poole 
may well beare 60/. thereof; the burrough of Dorcester 
100/. ; the burrough of Wareham 30/. ; the burrough of 
Corff 10/. ; the burrough of Lyme Regis 70/. ; the bur- 
rough of Shafteburie 30/. ; and the burrough of Bland- 
ford Forum 60/. ; and the residue of the 5000/. is to be 
assessed vpon the rest of the said countie.'' This source of 
revenue produced to the coffers of the king for four years 
the annual sum of two hundred thousand pounds ; and all 
the accounts agree that it was honestly applied to the 
alleged purpose, " the safeguard of the seas and defence 
of the realm, " by the advancement of the navy at a time 
when the right of the English crown to the dominion of 
the narrow seas was disputed. 

These arbitrary proceedings of the monarch in having 
recourse to a worn-out branch of the prerogative, though 
deserving of grave censure, yet were somewhat palliated by 



116 GENERAL HISTORY. 

the circumstances in which he was placed, with a recusant 
and factious parliament at home and difficulties abroad 
involving 1 the honour and welfare of the nation. 

When the breach between the monarch and his parlia- 
ment became widened beyond the hope of reconciliation, 
when the sword of civil war was unsheathed, and the 
banners of the hostile parties were raised, the town of 
Poole took its stand on the side Of the parliament. This 
might have been expected* The attachment which the 
inhabitants had ever evinced towards liberty, and the impa- 
tience of authority which they had always manifested, 
would naturally incline them to take up such a position ; 
for there may be generally remarked in towns and com- 
munities, as well as in families, an hereditary descent of 
principles and feelings. And the inhabitants of Poole were 
not more prompt in converting- the town into a parlia- 
mentary garrison, than they were afterwards firm and 
successful in maintaining the cause they had espoused. 

The first intimation of preparation for the hostilities that 
then appeared inevitable was made Jan. 16, 1642, when an 
order of session was made for watching the town by the 
number of one watchman, one rounder, and one gunner, 
for the day time, at the town gate ; and six ordinary 
watchmen of the commonalty and two rounders for the 
night watch. The rounders to be burgesses and such 
other inhabitants as should be appointed by the mayor and 
justices. 

Poole was one of the towns in the west with which, on 
the breaking out of the rebellion, sir Anthony Ashley 
Cooper entered into treaty, in pursuance of the scheme he 
had formed for putting an end to the evils of war. When 
sir Anthony had prepared his plan, he went to Oxford, 
where he was recommended to the king by his relation, the 
marquis of Hertford, and introduced by lord Falkland; 
At his audience he informed the king, " that he had a pro- 
posal to make, which he hoped might put an end to the 



GENERAL HISTORY. 117 

war, and terminate the differences between him and the par- 
liament." The king, looking earnestly at him, said, " you 
are a young 1 man, and talk great things. What way will you 
take to compass such an undertaking?" Sir Anthony 
replied, "that he was persuaded the men of estates in 
almost every part of England were tired of the war, espe- 
cially as they had no fairer prospect of its conclusion than 
they had at first; that he knew this was the opinion of those 
who resided in his county ; and where he had any concerns. 
He therefore desired the king* would authorize him to treat 
with the principal garrisons of the parliament, and get them 
delivered into the hands of such persons as were men of 
character, and would act impartially between him and the 
parliament, that these should declare for calling" a new and 
a free parliament, who, perhaps might be better disposed 
to accommodate the differences than those whose minds 
might have been sharpened by some former proceedings." 
He made his proposal appear so practicable, and so much 
to the king's satisfaction, that he was presentlv commis- 
sioned to put it in execution. He returned to Dorsetshire, 
and met with such success in his treaty with the garrisons 
of Weymouth, Poole, Dorchester, and other places, that 
the garrison of Weymonth actually admitted the persons 
recommended by him, and the rest engaged to follow their 
example. But prince Maurice, who commanded some of 
the king's forces in those parts, entered the town and pil- 
laged it, after it was agreed to be surrendered ; which 
made the troops of the garrison think themselves to be 
betrayed. Sir Anthony not only expressed his resentment 
to prince Maurice, but sent notice to Poole and the other 
garrisons to be upon their guard, as he could not secure 
his articles to them. He went immediately afterwards to 
Oxford, and gave the king an account of what progress he 
had made, and the interruption he had met with in his under- 
taking ; at which the king shook his head with some concern, 
but said little. The scheme was not further prosecuted. 



118 GENERAL HISTORY. 

In consequence of this failure the inhabitants of Poole 
proceeded in preparations for the war, and put their town 
in a state of defence so as to enable them to repel any 
attack from the royal forces, under the command of the 
marquis of Hertford, who was then in the west. July 21, 
1642, an order was made by the parliament for the 
defence of the town, authorizing* the mayor, aldermen, 
&c, to assemble the inhabitants of the town, or any others 
who might offer themselves as volunteers, and array and 
arm them for resisting 1 any attacks that might be made 
upon the town, and to hinder the surprisal of the ordnance 
and magazine there^. Soon after, it was summoned by 
the marquis, but to no purpose. The following" quaint 
account of this transaction is from the canting* puritan, 
Vicars : — " About the midst of August, 1642, information 
came to the parliament, that the g*ood townes of Dorchester 
and Poole, in Dorsetshire, had bravely fortified themselves, 
and mounted their ordnance, and made strong trenches and 
defences to prevent the marquesse of Hartford's intention 
to have seized on them and their magazine, arms, and 
ordnance, in those parts, resolving stoutly to stand out for 
king and parliament, against the illegal " commission of 
array ;" and that very shortly after the marquesse of 
Hartford being set down, and having fortified himselfe at 
Sherborne, sent a drummer to Poole requiring it to yeeld 
obedience to his commands for the king, for that he was 
not onely honoured with being prime commissioner for the 
array, but was by his majesty made lievtenant-generall 
of all Wales, Dorsetshire, Somersetshire, Hampshire, 
Wiltshire, &c, (stiles enow to make a man breake his 
shins, or else out of breath to run over them,) and, there- 
fore, that he thought no place so fit to entertaine his great- 
nesse as Poole, where he promised to be so noble and 
generous as to spend 200/2. a week there, and to fortifie 



Lords and Commons Journals. 



GENERAL HISTORY. 119 

that town most strongly for their greater security and 
safeguard. But it seemed (and blessed be the Lord for it) 
that those birds were too old than so easily to be caught 
with such chaffe ; for the major and townsmen sent him 
this ans were,— that their towne was already very well for- 
tified and provided with ordnance, horse, and foot, to 
oppose any malignant whomsoever, that therefore they 
would not trouble his lordship to send any forces to assist 
them ; but if he did send any without their consent, they 
would deny them entrance. Then his lordship sent them 
word that he had power by his commission to make and 
ordaine lawes, and to set forth proclamations to enforce 
their obedience. The major (in the name of the whole 
towne) returned this reply, — that his commission was ille- 
gall ; for (said he) a commission under the broad seale (as 
he conceived) could no more make a law, in a parliament 
time, than it could make a project a law before a parlia- 
ment : and therefore they sent his lordship word, that since 
hee pretended to assume that power, they hoped, ere long, 
to have him, by force, brought to the parliament, to be 
made an example to posterity, to feare to execute or 
attempt such illegal commissions, and unsufferable insolen- 
cies. The like entertainment also he found at Dorchester, 
which towne had resolved to joine with and to sticke fast to 
Poole, in the maintenance and justification of the common 
cause."^ August 20, in the same year, the treasurer of 
the county paid fifty pounds towards fortifying the town. 

The year 1643 was one of much bustle in Poole and its 
neighbourhood, and the garrison was frequently called 
into active service. In the course of this and the follow- 
ing year, the town was the scene of several bloody trans- 
actions. Notwithstanding the great preponderance of the 
partizans of the parliament, there were in the town many 
active supporters of the royal cause, and charges were 



* Vicars, 137. 



120 GENERAL HISTORY. 

during" this year made against several of them for con- 
spiring* to betray the town to the king's forces. The 
mayor, Henry Harbin ; the recorder, Mr. Constantine ; and 
others, were apprehended on such suspicion, taken to 
London, and committed to prison by the parliament; Mr. 
Constantine was ejected from the recordership, and from 
his seat in parliament as the representative of the town, 
and his property was sequestered. Harbin was liberated, 
on compounding- for his freedom, as was also another 
royalist, named Wyatt, imprisoned on a similar charge. 

On the 23rd of June, the garrison of Pooje, under the 
command of captains Sydenham, Jarvis, and Scutt, led by 
sir Walter Erie, laid siege to Corfe castle, which was so 
gallantly defended by lady Bankes, wife of the right 
honourable sir John Bankes, chief-justice of the Common 
Pleas, that after remaining before the castle until the 4th of 
August, the assailants were fain to raise the siege and retire. 

In August the town was threatened with an attack by 
prince Maurice, who summoned it, and received so 
peremptory a refusal, that he resolved to attack it. Pre- 
parations were immediately made for its defence. Aug. 
15, the house of commons ordered £300 to be appropriated 
to the preservation of Poole, and sir William Waller was 
instructed to consider of some course for its defence ; and 
on the following day a letter to the inhabitants to encourage 
them to persevere in continuing upon their defence was 
read and ordered to be signed by the speaker and sent to 
the town.^ Two tons of lead were delivered for the use of 
the garrison here* from Lullworth castle, then held by the 
parliament. Prince Maurice failed in his attempt, and 
departed from this neighbourhood, leaving the earl of 
Crawford in command of the royalist forces. A treacherous 
transaction then occurred here, of which the following 
relation was presented to the house of commons on 
Sept. 29th.+ 



* Comm : Joura : + Ibid. 



GENERAL HISTORY. 121 

" Captaine Francis Sydenham being quartered in Poole, 
in the house of a malignant, who, wanting monies, and 
having some debts owing him in the countrey, obtained 
leave for his wife to goe to Winborne, a malignant towne, 
about foure miles distant, there to receive some money, 
and accordingly thither she went, where meeting with cap-* 
taine Thomas Phillips (who dwelt not far thence) and he 
discoursing with her, and amongst other things required 
what captaines there were in Poole ; and she amongst the 
rest comming to name captaine Francis Sydenham ; cap- 
taine Phillips, thereupon seemed desirous to speake with 
him ; the woman at her returne to Poole, finding the cap- 
taine somewhat discontented, and willing to heare newes, 
and withall taking upon him the face of a malignant, and 
complaining to her of his losses in Ireland, and in the 
parliament service, she thereupon imparted unto him 
captaine Phillips his desire of giving him a meeting, unto 
which, out of a purpose to dive further into the businesse, 
he seemed to consent, so as it might be done with secrecy : 
and to contrive it the better, letters passing to and fro, a 
place of meeting is appointed, and herewith captaine 
Sydenham makes master Bingham the governour privately 
acquainted. At this meeting (after some complement) 
captaine Phillips seeming much to desire the others good, 
and conceiving him to be in a wrong way, perswaded him 
to stand for his majesty, whereunto captaine Sydenham 
seemed to give consent, so as hee might have his pardon, 
and the losse which he had sustained in the parliaments 
service repaired, which captaine Phillips promised to 
procure, so as he would be helpefull for the regaining of 
the town of Poole for his maiesties service, which as he 
supposed lay in his power to doe : whereunto captaine 
Sydenham seemed to be willing; captaine Phillips afterwards 
acquainted the earle of Craford with the whole businesse, 
who being ready to grant what was desired, sent unto cap- 
taine Sydenham a letter under his hand and seale, promising? 

R 



122 GENERAL HISTORY. 

pardon for all former delinquencies, and satisfaction for 
losses in the parliament service, with free egresse and 
regresse, to effect the gaining* of the town for his majestic 
Captaine Sydenham thinking to make some other advantage 
hereof, seemed to desire some assurance of the reality of 
his promises : whereupon the earle sent him forty pounds 
by one Melledge, a malignant minister ; promising withall, 
that he should want no money, so as he would be constant 
to his majestie and his lordship : upon this captain Syden- 
ham vowes and protests never to fight against his majestie ; 
with which protestation the earle was so well satisfied, as 
that they began to treat more particularly of the manner 
how to betray the towne and the ship in Brownsey roade, 
which was contrived in this manner, viz,, that he should be 
captaine of the watch, at a night appointed, his men being 
on the guard, and the earle then to approach the towne 
with some troopes of horse in the dead of the night, and 
that the gate should bee left open, and the earle comming 
in should cause a home to be blown (as captaine Sydenham 
used to do for want of a trumpet when he went abroad), 
that so the towne and the small ship lying right against the 
gate might not suspect them ; and so they entering the 
towne and the captaine flying for safety, and crying out that 
he was betrayed, should presently go to the parliament 
ship, and with such strength as he had with him to seize 
upon her. The earle liking the plot very well, sent the 
captaine an hundred pounds, promiseing him a seargiant 
major's place (at the least) in the king's army, and the ship 
for his paines ; dureing this treaty the earles advise was, that 
the captaine, to avoyd suspition, should shew himself as 
adventerous as ever before, which was accordingly followed 
by captaine Sydenham, who tooke lieut-col. Verney, and 
some officers prisoners, besides divers horse and arms ; the 
night being designed and the time, about two of the clock 
the captaine sent out one of his men to tell them that all 
things was in a readinesse, and that he expected their 



GENERAL HISTORY. 123 

comming: whereupon, at the time appointed, the earle 
with all his horse, being eight troops, and two regiments of 
the marquesse of Hartford's foot, under colonell Ashley, 
and colonell GrifFeth, being about four hundered, which, 
with such foot as they could get up in the countrie, made 
in all five hundered, came on, the captaine sending out some 
to draw thenualong, whom the earle kindly entertained, and 
he comming on was welcomed, crying fall is our owne ; 
on, on J, which they hearing, rushing in upon the gate, the 
earle being one of the foremost ; but before the gate was a 
halfe-moone, at the enterance of which there were chaines to 
be drawne up at pleasure ; the earle with his horse filling 
the halfe moone, the chaines were then drawn up, and the 
muskets and ordnance (placed conveniently on purpose) 
gave fire upon those that came on, which caused all that 
were not slaine to throwe downe their amies and runne 
away^. The armes which they lost for horse and foot, 
were about three hundred, in the halfe moone were taken 
neer fiftv horse, the riders escapeing all but twenty, which 
were taken prisoners ; the earle himselfe escaping narrowly. 
Had not the great gunns been mounted too high above the 
ground where most of them were, there had not many of 
those escaped that were within shot. The number of those 
that were slaine is not certainly knowne; the country 
reports there were divers cart-Ioades."-f- 

This relation must be received as the testimony of a 
partizan. The royalist accounts of the transaction state 
that there were but ten soldiers killed, and four taken 



* In 1835, some workmen digging a well near the site of the old town wall, found a 
skeleton at some depth below the surface. To the skull long hair was observed to be 
attached ; and the remains were probably those of one of the royalists who fell on 
this occasion. 

+ From a tract, entitled "A True Relation of a Plot to betray the town of Poole iu 
the county of Dorset. And likewise how many of the Conspirators themselves were 
entrapped and cut off. And more particularly of the narrow escape of the Lord 
Craford. As it was presented to the House of Commons, 29th September, 1643. — 
London : Printed by L. N. for Laurence Blaikelocke, and are to be sold at his shop 
at Temple Barre. 1643." 



124 GENERAL HISTORYi 

prisoners ; and that the garrison durst not sally out on the 
king's forces, who retreated safely to their quarters.^ 

Sept. 28, it was ordered by the house of commons that 
the two hundred pounds* given by Mrs. Barbara Lochere* 
of Fulham, to the parliament, should be assigned and paid 
to Mr. Trenchard, or his assigns, for the payment of the 
soldiers in Poole. 

The defence of the town at this time was not confined to 
the land service, but vessels were fitted out to protect the 
port and act as privateers against the vessels engaged in 
the royalist service. In October, this year, the "Anne 
and Joyce," one of the vessels so fitted out here, captured 
two vessels in Swanwich bay, one of them freighted with 
linen cloth and other French merchandize, being the pro- 
perty of some royalists at Weymouth ; and the other a 
French vessel, laden with corn, gunpowder, arms, and 
other ammunition, intended to be carried to Ireland for the 
use of the king's forces there. Two thirds of this prize 
were adjudged to the sailors and soldiers who were en- 
gaged in the capture, and 500/. of the remainder were 
ordered to be allowed to the town and garrison of Poole, 
towards the payment of the soldiers and the providing of 
munition and other necessaries for their defence. On 
October 24, 200/. more were voted by the house of com- 
mons, for the use of the garrison here. Nov. 3, a com- 
mittee was appointed by the house to consider of the 
measures necessary for the preservation of Poole ; and a 
few days afterwards provision was made for four ships in 
service for the defence and safety of the town ; and thirty- 
two pair of pistols that had been seized and forfeited, were 
delivered to sir Walter Erie to be conveyed to Poole for 
the service of the garrison. Nov. 24, the harbour was 
occupied by ships commanded by the earl of Warwick, 
the lord high admiral of the parliament, who proceeded up 



* Mercurius Aulicus. 



GENERAL HISTORY. 125 

the channel towards Wareham, and took five small vessels 
belonging to the royalist party there, besides plundering" 
the town. Dec. 11, some goods, seized by capt. Drink- 
water and at Richmond, were sold, and the proceeds 
ordered to be paid for the service of the towns of Poole 
and Lyme. About this time the garrison sallied out and 
had a skirmish with the royalist forces near Dorchester, 
taking many prisoners, with whom the governor was, by 
the house of commons, authorised to compound for their 
liberty. Feb. 18, 1643-4, this garrison and that of 
Wareham, beat lord Inchiquin's Irish regiment, killed 
some, took several prisoners, two pieces of ordnance, and 
fired their magazine. Two days afterwards, prince Eupert 
having sent three thousand pounds to Weymouth, in order, 
as was imagined, to be sent into his own country, the 
garrison of Poole fell upon the convoy near Dorchester, 
took the money, one hundred horse, arms, and ammunition, 
and carried all to Poole. A little before a party from 
hence took colonel Wyndham prisoner, with seven or 
eight horse, and killed lieutenant Barker. On these 
proceedings the following orders were made by the house 
of commons, Feb. 26. 

" Ordered, that colonel Wyndham and his lieutenant- 
colonel, taken prisoners by the forces of the garrison of 
Poole and Wareham, be bestowed upon the governor of 
Poole to be disposed of for the benefit and advantage of 
Poole and Wareham. 

" Ordered, that it be referred to the governor of Poole 
to distribute the moneys, taken by the forces of the gar- 
risons of Poole and Wareham, at Dorchester, to the 
officers and soldiers of the said garrisons, with a special 
regard to be had of major Sydenham, and that out of 
those moneys he do pay unto major Sydenham the seven 
score pounds laid out of his own purse. And 

" It is further ordered, that Mr. Henry Bridges be 
recommended to the governor of Poole, to be considered 
of in the distribution of these monevs. 



12G GENERAL HISTORY. 

" Ordered, that the papers and pacquets, taken by the 
g'arrisons of Poole and Wareham, at Dorchester, be 
referred to the consideration of the committee for exami- 
nations.*' 

Some months were now devoted to strengthening* the 
town, and the parliament voted frequent supplies for this 
purpose. April 4, ah order of the house of commons 
directed 300/. to be advanced for the use of the town of 
Poole. April 17, it was specially recommended by the 
house to the committee of both kingdoms, to take care for 
the safety of Poole and the county of Dorset ; and the 
commanders and officers were sent down to their several 
and respective charges. June 10, it was " ordered, that 
500/. be borrowed out of Haberdashers' hall, for the 
service of Poole, now in great distress ; and that the same 
shall be repaid within a fortnight. An ordinance was read 
and assented unto for assigning the two thousand pounds 
for the twentieth part of Sir Edward Yates's estate to Lyme 
and Poole." June 13, the lieutenant of the ordnance was 
ordered to deliver, out of the stores remaining in the 
tower, twenty barrels of gunpowder unto Mr. Henry 
Bridges, of Poole, for the defence of that town. And on 
Sept. 28, there was an order for the delivery, unto captain 
Scutt and captain Harding, eight pieces of ordnance, four 
of which pieces were for the use and defence of the town 
and garrison of Poole, the other four for the furnishing of 
the castle or blockhouse, called Brownsea Castle."^ 

About this time the garrison of Poole, under the com- 
mand of the governor, colonel Bingham, was occupied in 
the blockade of Corfe castle. 

In October, 1644, the governor of Poole attacked one 
hundred horse of the queen's regiment, killed sixteen, took 
sixty prisoners, and two colours, between Poole and 
Blandford.-f* 

Nov. 20, eight hundred pounds were paid to colonel 



* Comm : Jo urn : t Vicars. Whitlock. 



GENERAL HISTORY. 127 

John Bingham, the governor, by the treasurer of the 
county."^ 

November 21 , a party of this garrison began to settle at 
Blandford, being reinforced from Weymouth and Ware- 
ham. Sir Lewis Dives, colonel general of the county, 
having intelligence of it, marched from Sherborne to 
remove them, and sent a good party before, commanded 
by major Strangeways and captain Walcot, who surprized 
and took a troop of horse, with their officers and arms ; the 
rest fled. Thence he drove them to Wimborne and Poole, 
and then marched to Dorchester. Sir Lewis, however, 
failed in his chief object; and could not dislodge the par- 
liamentarians from the town of Blandford. November 30, 
sir Lewis Dives, with three hundred horse and dragoons, 
marched from Dorchester to face Poole, but retreated to 
the former place in the night. Major Sydenham followed 
him, and seeing at the head of the king's troops, major 
Williams, who had formerly killed his (Sydenham's) 
mother, he singled out that officer, slew him, and put his 
men to flight, driving them through the town ; and then 
returned to Poole. Sir Lewis Dives was wounded ; many 
were slain and taken prisoners.-^- 

Feb. 12, 1644-5, it was ordered by the house of com- 
mons, " that it be referred to the committee of the west, 
to take into their special care to provide the supplies 
desired for the towns of Poole and Wareham." The 
royalist forces had, at this time, been very successful. The 
king possessed nearly the whole of the west of England. 
Poole, Weymouth, Plymouth, Taunton, and one or two 
other places only, held out for the parliament. 

At the commencement of 1646, the garrison of Poole 
was engaged in the siege of Corfe castle, at which the 
governor of Poole, colonel Bingham, commanded, and 
which, after having lasted forty-eight days, terminated in 



Mercurius Aulicus. t Vicars. Whitlock, 3. 



128 GENERAL HISTORY. 

the castle being taken possession of by the parliamentary 
forces, Feb. 26, 1645-6. 

On the same day (Feb. 26) an order was made by the 
house of commons, that Poole should continue garrisoned 
with one hundred men. March 13, the appointment of 
captain William Scutt, to be governor of Poole, was 
approved by the housed 

By an ordinance of both houses, in 1647, for raising 
600,000/. a month for the maintenance of forces in Ireland, 
the town and county of Poole was charged monthly 
91. 16.5. Id. 

Nov. 11, 1647, colonel John Rede was appointed 
governor of Poole and Brownsea castle, and commander- 
in-chief of all the forces raised for the defence of the 
same. A letter, dated July 27, 1648, was sent by governor 
Rede to the house of commons, requesting that further 
supplies might be furnished to the garrison ; and the letter 
was referred to a committee, with a recommendation to 
propose some way for the supply of the garrison. 

May 23, 1649, the following order was made by the 
house of commons : — " That it be referred to the committee 
for removing obstructions in the sale of bishops' lands, to 
take into consideration the sums of money raised by colonel 
Bingham, for the service of the garrison of Poole, and 
report their opinion to the house, touching the admitting 
the respective persons by whom those moneys were ad- 
vanced, to double upon the act for deans' and chapters' 
lands." 

During the progress of these wars, the profits of the 
parish of Hamworthy were applied to the use of the gar- 
rison at Poole. The church of that parish was pulled 
down by the fanatics of the parliament, and the materials 
were applied to the service of the war. 

In 1651, the hon. Richard Burthogge was appointed 
governor of this garrison. 



Comm : Journ : 



GENERAL HISTORY. 129 

There is still preserved in the corporation chest, a sheet, 
containing the following* account of disbursements and re- 
ceipts by Haviland Hiley, who appears to have been the 
treasurer of the fund appropriated for the service of the 
town during" the troubles, and who, Dec. 27, 1645, was 
sent to London by the mayor and aldermen " that he might 
attend the house of commons, and there with all his wit and 
wisdom, sue to the house for the settling of a competent 
subsistence for two able ministers." 

Dr. 

" This acctt. sets forth the severall soms of money disbursed for the town's 
acctt. Janow*. 12^ 1655,, 

U. s. d. 
Imp 1 *- the expenses for Mr. Bromhall, his man, my selfe, and 

three horses 27 days 17 12 06 

It. for wrightinge petisions and other such charge 01 06 00 

It. Mr. Bromhall toke up there for his occasions 30 00 00 

It. Mr. Bromhall had at 3 severall times 06 00 00 

It. for a box of drugs as p? the dragster's bill 10 11 00 

It. for drugs sent Mr. Loader 01 19 03 

It. 5 monney baggs , 00 02 06 

It. to Mr. Bartholomew Hall for counsell 01 00 00 

Disbursed affor I came downe 

1G45 Impr. for billateing Mr. Bridge's souldiers 20 00 00 

Nov. 8. Pd Mr. Moses Durell for the souldiers . 80 00 00 

Pd Mr. Moses Durell for the souldiers 12 00 00 

Pd Mr. Moses Durell for the souldiers 37 12 06 

Pd Mr. Moses Durell for the souldiers 20 00 00 

Pd Thomas Dadhouse for 5 weeks pay 01 08 00 

Pd Captaine Harding by Mr. Bingham's order, for 

v/ch he did sweare to bring a receipte 10 00 00 

Pd Mr. Maior and Mr. Skutt 50 00 00 

April 20 Pd Mr. Maior and Mr. Skutt ,,...,. 50 00 00 

Maij — Pd Mr. Skutt and Mr. Durell 50 00 00 

Dec. 8. Pd Mr. William Skutt, maior ' 38 01 09 

Mar. 12. Pd Mr. William ,Skutt, maior . 25 04 04 

Pd by Mr. Maior's order to Wm. Gibbs 15 10 00 

Pd Mr. Melmoth and the botemen for beere 00 05 00 

Pd Trew and Wild for unloading the stoans 00 03 00 

16 16. Pd for alteringc a bras quarto 00 03 06 

Pd Mr. Bromhall in money 18 00 00 

Pd for selleridg of ten thousand of bisket 00 19 07 

Pd Mr. Skutts 33 00 00 

S 



130 GENERAL HISTORY. 

li. s. d. 

Pd Mr. Tito . . 02 00 00 

Pd Mr. Grundy 01 04 04 

Pd Mr. Harbin 02 00 00, 

Pd Mr. Hardinge 02 00 00 

Pd Richard Gailor 00 16 08 

Pd Mr. Dolbery 02 00 00 

Pd Mr. Melmoth , . 01 01 04 

Pd Mr. Durell , 02 00 00 

Pd Mr Hall 01 04 00 

Pd Mr, Martin 03 04 00 

Pd Mr. Pitman , 00 16 08 

PdMr. Baker 02 00 00 

Pd Peter Cox 00 16 08 

Pd Mr. Poell 00 16 08 

Pd to my sclfe 08 00 00 

Pd to my selfe for my expenses for 11 days jerney in} 
geting this order for the money, and for expenses > 

with the clarks > 05 07 04 

For money allowed me at the cOmmitte of lords and 1 
commons for the safety of the western counties f 
for money disbursed, which was seventy pounds T 
to Mr. Henry Bridges they allowed mee in parte, j 40 00 00 
It. for monev disbursed in charge in riding to Ports- 
moth , . . 01 10 00 

It. for a new key where the bread was put 00 01 0Q 

It. for 13 deales for peniles bench 00 15 02 

It. to John TreAv for laths and nailes 00 04 08 

It. to John Parkins for the pownd 05 05 00 

It. to carpenters and laborers to set it up 00 06 09 

It. for the Ireworke for the doare ,.,.., 00 08 09 

It. for a piece for the doare 00 01 00 

It. for boards to make the doare 

For my expenses in rideinge to the committe to 
Waymoth, to Serne, to Dorste and many other 
places to get in money and p'visions in the sieknes 

time,* & for gctinge the SOIL out of the 4 hundreds )> 12 00 0Q 
in w ch i was ou t above 7 weeks, & lost one horse 
at Serne and lamed another, & account foryt time 

5s. a day 



* Some epidemical disorder appears to have prevailed in Poole in the year 1643 or 
1644, which was probably the " sieknes time" alluded to in the above account. We 
gather this fact from a passage in a paper detailing the sufferings of William Wake, 
esq., a noted royalist, arid which is published in Hutchins's Dorset, ii. 51.8-19; (2nd 
ed.) The passage states as a great grievance, that Mr. Wake " was sent a prisoner to 
Poole, where the plague then was." 



GENERAL HISTORY, 131 

Cr. * 

<£ An acc*t- what some of money I have ree'ed for the acctt. of this towne. 

July 30, 1645. u - s - 

fenp r - from the Parliament for the town 450 00 

July 27, 1646. 

Sold the pest houses by Mr. Maior's order to William 
Pelly, for 14 00 

And the 100ft. I did receive for the bread as fowloweth— 
July 27, 1647. 

Ree'ed from George Fillater fifty pounds, of wch I payd 

him 50s. so I had Imt 47 10 

Oct. 17, 1647. 

Ree'ed from George Fillater 25ft. payinge him 40s. so I 

had but 23 00 

July 30, 1648. 

Ree'ed from George Fillater 10 00 

Oct. 9, 1648. 

Ree'ed from George Fillater fifteen pounds, out of wen 
hee had 5ft. for his paines and care, so I had but 10 00 

554 10 
To Haviland Hiley. 

Errors Excepted." 

This account appears to have been audited in 1657. 

When the principle of hereditary succession was again 
recognized in the executive government of the country, and 
Charles 1J. was called to assume that crown which had 
been nominally in abeyance since the death of his father, 
but the powers of which had been wielded by the iron 
hand of a protector with a vigour and stringency that 
excited in the people a desire for the milder rule of legiti- 
macy, — the part that Poole had borne in the revolutionary 
contests, the zeal and steadiness with which it had supported 
the cause of the parliament, were remembered against it. 
The officers and members of the corporation who refused 
to make the required declaration in favour of the king, 
were removed, and others of more conformable dispositions 
were substituted ; and the feelings of revenge and the in- 
stigations of policy were reconciled by the demolition of 
the fortifications of the town. Charles I) : , however, was 



132 GENERAL HISTORY* 

not naturally stern ; his resentments were not implacable^ 
Unfitted, perhaps, for the solemn duties of a throne, by the 
influence of early habits and the circumstances in which 
his youth had been passed ; he possessed, neverthelessj those 
qualities of the heart, that, had they not been warped by ah 
uncertain education, and biassed by evil example, would 
have fitted him to adorn that court which was unhappily 
degraded by the licentiousness he encouraged. Free, for- 
giving, and affable, he sought rather to win the affections 
of his subjects by kindness and generosity, than to coerce 
them into a reluctant obedience by sternness and rigoim 
Thus, within five years after his restoration, the king had so 
far forgotten or forgiven the cause of animosity towards 
Pooler that he honoured it with a visit in 1665. His ma- 
jesty had at this time removed from London, in consequence 
of the prevalence of the plague in that city. His court was 
first removed to Hampton, but that not being considered 
sufficiently distant from the ravages of that direful visitation, 
the court was afterwards established at Salisbury, and it 
was during the time of its being held there that Poole was 
thus honoured by the royal presence. His majesty was 
received with great deference and attention, and appears to 
have been much pleased with his visit ; the particulars of 
which are thus duly and gratefully noted in the records of 
the borough : — 

" Friday the 15th day of September, 1665, were present 
in Poole, the king's most excellent majesty, 
Charles the Second, 
His grace the duke of Monmouth, 
The earle of Oxford, 
The earle of Suffolke, 
The earle of Latherdale, 
The lord Gerrard, 
The lord Ashley, 
The lord Crofts, 
And the lord Arlington, 
besides very many of his majesty's meniall attendants and 
servants ; alsoe divers knights, esquires, and gentlemen of 



GENERAL HISTORY. 133 

quallity of the county of Dorset and elswhere, that came to 
vvayte vpon his majesty in this place. 

Peter Hall, th' elder, then mayor. 

William Frampton, sheriff. 
" Be it recorded, and in order to the perpetual memory 
and humblest gratitude of this towne and county of Poole, 
in due acknowledgment of the vnparaleld honour and 
grace his majesty was then pleased to cast on this place and 
corporation, (this day) by his most sacred and royall pre- 
sence, attended by the said duke, earles, lords, &c, afore- 
mentioned, in the acceptance of a most humble and loyall 
treatment, wholly provyded and payd for, excepting such 
expences paid at the inns for horses, &c, at the only 
costs and charges of the said Peter Hall, mayor ; who, in 
company with the aldermen and said sheriff, had the 
singular honour to attend on his majesty at a dinner, pro- 
vyded for him att and in the house of Sir. Peter Hiley, sett 
apart for that purpose, where his majesty was graciously 
pleased to declare his royall ownement of the same ; and 
in like manner his sayd grace the duke of Monmouth, as 
alsoe the said earles and lords with their respective retinew, 
were pleased nobly, ingeniously, and friendly to acknow- 
ledg such the said mayor's most candid and humble enter- 
taynement as aforesaid. After dinner it pleased his majesty 
with the said duke and lord Ashley, &c, to take coll. 
William Skutt's boat to Brownsea, steered by the sayd 
collonel, and rowed by six masters of shipps, where his 
majesty tooke an exact view of the said island, castle, bay, 
and this harbour, to his great contentment, &c, and then 
returned in the said boat vnto the key of Poole, where the 
said mayor had the honour to hand his majesty on shore, 
from whence he went on foote to the house of the said coll. 
Skutt, the said sheriff going before, and the said mayor, 
and Edward Man, senior bayliffe, bearing theire maces 
before him, where was a stately banquett provyded for 
him, the which he pleased right graciously to accept 
of; and then vnderstanding that day to be the annual tyme 
constituted for the election of the succeeding mayor for 
the yeare following, his majesty was pleased then and there 
to nominate and appoint the said coll. Skutt for the future 
mayor of Poole, to the said coll. great honour, with 
equall contentment and humble thanks of the present 
mayor, aldermen, &c, for his majesty's most gratious 



134 GENERAL HISTORY. 

favour therein ; and then attending" his majesty to the town 
gates, he was pleased there againe to declare his good 
resentments of the sayd mayor's most dutifull and cordiall 
entertainment, and therewith departed." 

This record is signed by Peter Hall, mayor ; Edward 
Man, senior bailiff; William Frampton, sheriff; Moses 
Durell, Peter Hiley, John Pittman, John Willie, Stephen 
Streete, Robert Cleeves ; John Carter, water bailiff; 
Richard Albert, town clerk. 

The house in which his majesty Was entertained on this 
occasion, was situated on the south-east side of the corn 
market ; but it is not now standing, having been pulled 
down some years since to make way for a more modern 
edifice. A part of his wardrobe was left by his majesty 
on this occasion, which has since been preserved by the 
Hiley family, and is now in the possession of its lineal 
representative, Charles Hiley, esq., of Planefield Lodge. 

Notwithstanding the choice of his majesty, and the 
" great contentment and humble thanks of the mayor, 
aldermen, &c," expressed thereat, it appears that William 
Skutt did not act as mayor, but that Stephen Street was 
chosen in the customary manner and sworn into the office ; 
the corporators probably being reluctant to establish even 
the semblance of precedent for any interference with their 
right of choosing their own officers. 

The plague, to escape the destructive influence of which, 
Charles retired into the country, did not extend its ravages 
far beyond the precincts of London. The popular tradi- 
tion that this plague was prevalent in Poole, is utterly 
without foundation ; as are consequently the somewhat 
romantic circumstances, which are preserved in the legend 
connected with the spot known by the name of Cutler's 
gallows. This legend which has so generally obtained as 
to have appeared recorded in all the dignity of typography, 
requires therefore to be set at rest. It states that " about 
the year 1666, a young woman named Mary Cutler, was 



GENERAL HISTORY. 135 

condemned to be hanged in this town for the murder of 
her bastard child : that dreadful disease the plague being 
then in this town, the sheriff granted her a respite from 
execution, provided she would attend the persons afflicted 
with the plague as a nurse; this she faithfully performed, 
and escaped the contagion ; and in consideration of her 
services, the sheriffs and corporation made great interest to 
obtain her pardon from the king ; but such was the justice 
or cruelty of those times, that their solicitations were with- 
out effect, and she was executed near the entrance of the 
town, (to the great concern of the corporation and inhabi- 
tants,) which place retains to this day the name of ' Cutler's 
Gallows,' " If this pathetic story be not wholly a fabrica- 
tion, it must have reference to some other period. The 
name which has so long adhered to the spot, indicates 
indeed that some one of that name was there executed ; but 
the peculiar circumstances with which the event is invested, 
are, in all probability, the superstructure of mere tradition. 

It is highly honourable to the inhabitants of Poole, that 
on the intelligence reaching the town of the devastation of 
the great fire in London, of 1666, and the consequent 
destitution of a large body of the people, the inhabitants 
were not behind the other parts of the country in their 
endeavours to mitigate the distress. A munificent collec- 
tion was made here, and trading vessels were freighted 
with supplies for the metropolis towards the relief of the 
sufferers. 

Prior to the general issue of a copper coinage by authority, 
it was the practice of the merchants and tradesmen of Lon- 
don and other places to provide local remedies for the in- 
convenience felt from the deficiency, by the issue of copper 
tokens. Several of this description of coin were issued in 
Poole, both by individual tradesmen and by the corporation. 
The coin struck for the latter was a farthing, and there still 
exists in the corporation books, an entry of the authority 
granted to the mayor to disburse £10 in copper farthings, 



136 



GENERAL HISTORY. 



with the stamp of the town arms upon them, and this 
inscription, " for the mayor of the town and 
county of poole." It appears from this entry, that 
these farthings were first issued August 22, 1667, and that 
for the ten pounds disbursed, the mayor received farthings 
to the amount of £19 4s. ^ 

The visit of Charles II. to Poole stimulated the desires 
of the inhabitants, who shortly afterwards petitioned the 
monarch for a confirmation of their ancient liberties and a 
grant of additional privileges, which were thereupon con- 
ceded in 1667. The burgesses of Poole having, however, 
sent to the Parliament representatives hostile to the views of 
the court, the offence was resented by the issue of a writ of 
quo ivarranto, in 1684, under the judgment of which the 
borough was deprived of all its liberties and privileges : 

* In the sixteenth century, the want of a small copper coinage led to great incon- 
venience, both in England and on the continent ; but before the union of the two 
kingdoms under James I., there was not any brass or copper money coined for the 
use of England, though our neighbours, the French, had it in 1575, as most of the 
neighbouring kingdoms and states had it some time before. Edward VI. was the last 
prince under whom farthings could possibly be coined of silver, the nominal value of 
that metal having so greatly increased, and though it is known from records that he 
did coin farthings, very few indeed have been discovered. The smallness indeed of 
the silver halfpenny, though continued down to the commonwealth, rendered that 
coin of extreme inconvenience. Queen Elizabeth it seems had it under consideration 
before her death to issue a copper coinage, but could not overcome her reluctance to 
its adoption. Under her authority, however, halfpence of copper were made at 
Bristol, for the use of that opulent city ; and this example extended, and towards the 
latter end of her reign, tradesmen's tokens of lead and brass became general, 
more especially in London. The project for a state copper coinage was not revived 
until 1013, when the issue of king James's royal farthing tokens commenced by 
l)i*o clamation, in consequence of the prodigious quantity of private tokens of lead 
and brass, which every tradesman made and paid for halfpence. This authorised 
coinage was by no means favourably received, the tradesmen having found their 
issue of tokens a very lucrative mode of doing business, and it continued in a 
kind of reluctant and restricted circulation during this reign and the succeeding. 
This reluctance and the king's death in 1619, put an utter stop to its currency ; 
and no farthings being struck under the commonwealth, the tokens of corporate 
towns and private tradesmen again took their run, increasing prodigiously until 
1G72, when farthings properly so called were again coined by government. 

Iii 1811, and the few immediately subsequent years, during the great scarcity of 
coin, owing to the exportation of the precious metals during the long-continued 
wars of the French revolution, a similar practice was adopted, and silver tokens of 
the various values of sixpence, one shilling, and eighteen pence, were generally issued 
in all the principal towns of Eiig'ar.d, Several tokens of this kind were issued in 
Poole. 



GENERAL HISTORY. 137 

and though the crown was humbly petitioned to that effect, 
these were not restored until the 4th of James II. 

After the examination of Titus Oates, and the discovery, 
whether real or alleged, of the much questioned popish 
plot, several messengers and officers visited Poole, in 
March, 1679, for the discovery and apprehension of persons 
suspected of being concerned in the conspiracy. No re- 
cord exists of the degree of success that attended their 
search. 

At the time of the duke of Monmouth's attempt, in 1685, 
to obtain the British crown, the hereditary temper of the 
inhabitants of Poole would naturally render them well 
affected to the duke, and accordingly we find, that " when 
at a stand, and not a little non-plussed," at Frome, it was 
the intention of his party " to get good horses, and so for 
Poole, a little sea-port town, not far off, where we were to 
seize a ship and set forth for Holland again, leaving our 
infantry to the mercy of the country."^ This plan was 
afterwards abandoned, in consequence of some intervening 
circumstances, but the choice of Poole shews that the 
duke's cause was here favoured. In Pitts's " New Mar- 
tyrology" is the following passage : " The rest of the 
executions in this county (Dorset), as at Weymouth, Poole, 
Shaston, Wimborne, &c, not being there, we shall pass 
over, and only give you particular touches which w T e saw 
to our perfect knowledge." 

The inhabitants of Poole warmly participated in the 
feeling of pleasure that prevailed through the kingdom on 
the consummation of the revolution of 1688, by which the 
protestantism of the kingdom was secured, and a more 
popular spirit infused into the government. On the 13th 
of April, 1689, " the news of the coronation of king William 
and queen Mary was received with great rejoicing at 
Poole."f 



Titts's New Martj rology. t Old MS. Journal. 

T 



138 GENERAL HISTORY. 

In 1690, the government of William was involved in 
much perplexity. In addition to the troubles in Ireland, 
and the restlessness of the jacobin faction in England, the 
empire was threatened with an invasion by France. A 
fleet sailed from Brest, with this intent, and was discovered 
off Plymouth, on the 20th of June; and the English admi- 
ral, lord Torrington, immediately, with the fleet under his 
command, stood out to sea, with a view to intercept the 
French fleet, at the back of the Isle of Wight, should it 
presume to sail up the channel. On the following day, the 
21st, the French fleet, consisting of seventy-eight ships of 
war, and twenty-two fire ships, appeared off the port of 
Poole, where they threatened a descent. The inhabitants 
promptly undertook measures for preventing- surprise and 
securing the safety of the town ; and the following is a copy 
of the official entry of the measures adopted. 

" Poole, June 21, 1690. — At an assembly of the corporation 
at the guildhall, then and there it was ordered and 
appointed that for the better securing the towne against 
the dangers threatened to this town by the French, a 
common enemy to the kingdom, now having a very 
great fleet of ships in sight of this place : — 

" Imprimis : — An extraordinary watch of thirteen every 
night (every man in his own person if at home and of 
ability of body) do watch at such places as the captain 
of the watch for every night shall think fit. 

" Item : — That four great guns be placed and mounted at 
the town gates to secure that part of the entrance into 
the town. 

"Item: — That all persons that have muskets, fowling- 
pieces, blunderbusses, pistols, powder, bullets, or other 
arms or ammunition of defence, more than what is for 
their, or their friends' use, do bring them into the town 
hall, and there an account to be taken of them, and care 
taken for the cleansing of them and making them fit for 
use, and that the fixing and cleansing of the arms, and 
the cost of the powder and shot shall be made good to 
the furnishers, at the general charge of the whole town, 
to be levied by an equal rate as the law shall allow. 



GENERAL HISTORY. 139 

" Item : — That four men be appointed as a sea watch or 
guard, two of which to go in the king's scout and two to 
be at the castle of Brownsea, the former to give notice of 
any approaching danger, and the others, on such notice 
or sign, by firing a gun, to give notice to the town." 

The enemy did not attempt a landing here, but pro- 
ceeded up the channel, and an engagement took place off 
Beachy head, a few days afterwards, between the fleets, in 
which the English admiral was defeated. The French 
fleet then threatened the whole of the western coast, for the 
defence of which prompt and effective measures were 
adopted. 

During the hostilities that then ensued between the 
contending countries, we find that some individuals of 
Poole conducted themselves with a degree of bravery 
never paralleled, and set an example of daring cou- 
rage in resistance of the enemy, that justly obtained for 
them marked tributes of royal distinction, and honourable 
mention in the national records. 

In 1694, capt. Peter Jolliffe, of Poole, who was cruising 
in a small hoy, called the " Sea Adventure," perceiving a 
French privateer off the isle of Purbeck, make a prize of a 
fishing boat belonging to Weymouth, boldly attacked the 
privateer, though of three times his strength, and having 
first obliged him to quit his prize, afterwards forced him 
on shore, near the village of Lullworth, the people of which 
made themselves masters of the vessel, and took the crew 
prisoners. For this brave exploit, captain Jolliffe was 
honoured with a magnificent gold chain and medal, pre- 
sented to him by the king^. The medal is now in the 
possession of the Rev. Peter William Jolliffe, incumbent 
of the parish, who is the great grandson of the gallant 
captain ; it weighs 2oz. ITdwts., and has on the obverse the 
heads of the king and queen in high relief, with the titular 
legend "GVL: ET. MAR: D: G: M: B: F: ET. H: 



London Gaz ; 3089.— Campbell's Admirals, iii. 182. 



140 GENERAL HISTORY. 

REX. ET. REG1NA." And on the reverse is the fol- 
lowing* inscription : — 

" His Mattes' Gift as a Reward to PETER JOLLIF, 

of Poole* for his good Service agt- the Enemy in retaking 
a Ketch of Weymouth from a French Privateer, and 
chaceing the said Privateer on Shoar near Luhcorth in ye 
Isle o/Purbeck, where shee was broken in peeces. 1694." 

The honourable reward bestowed in this instance appears 
to have acted as a wholesome stimulus, for a still more 
daring action was undertaken on the 30th of May, 1695, 
by William Thompson, master of a fishing- boat, belonging" 
to Poole, who, when fishing near the isle of Pur beck, 
accompanied by only one man and a boy, perceived a pri- 
vateer of Cherbourg bearing down upon him. He was so 
far from avoiding the enemy that he made ready to defend 
himself the best way he could, with two little guns which 
he had mounted and some small arms ; and with so incon- 
siderable a force he behaved himself with such success 
that in a little time he wounded the captain, the lieutenant, 
and six more of the French, which so discouraged the rest 
that they bore away. But then, in his turn, Thompson, 
encouraged by the success of his valour, gave chase to the 
privateer, fired upon her incessantly for two hours, and at 
length made the enemy strike, beg for quarter, and sur- 
render ; so that Thompson, thus victorious, brought away 
the sloop with fourteen prisoners, of whom the captain was 
one, having left two more at Corfe castle, and brought her 
into Poole harbour. This privateer had two pateraroes, 
several small arms and grenadoes, and sixteen men. For 
this gallant proceeding the lords of the admiralty gave 
Thompson not only the vessel he had taken, but a gold 
chain and medal, similar to that presented to captain 
Jolliffe.# 

In the early part of the eighteenth century, the practice 



» London Gaz : 3085.— Pointer's Chron : Hist: ii. 411, 412.— Present State of 
Europe.— Lediard's Nav : Hist: ii, 700.— Campbell's Admirals, iii, 182. 



GENERAL HISTORY. 141 

of smiio'Mino* was carried on to an astonishing extent on 

COO c 

the whole of the southern coast ; and so prejudicial was 
the practice found, that a petition of the mayor, bailiffs, bur- 
gesses, and commonalty of Poole was presented to the house 
of commons, Dec. 17, 1720, setting forth "the great decay 
of their home manufacture by reason of the great quantities 
of goods run, not only on that but on all the eastern coasts," 
and praying for remedy. And, Dec. 11, 1722, another 
petition, praying for the prevention of smuggling, was pre- 
sented from the same parties. Soon afterwards strenuous 
efforts appear to have been made by the government to 
check the practice of smuggling, by instituting prosecutions 
against great numbers who had offended, by importing or 
buying uncustomed goods; and the proceedings seem to have 
been of very extensive application, for, on March 21, 1728, 
a petition was presented to the house from " the principal 
and other inhabitants of the town and county of Poole," 
setting forth that the town was very much impoverished, and 
the trade lessened by prosecutions against such of the un- 
happy inhabitants, as through ignorance or inadvertency 
either imported or bought goods which had not paid the 
duties, and praying such relief as the house should think fit. 
This petition was referred to a committee specially ap- 
pointed. To this committee were also referred other 
petitions, subsequently presented from Harwich, Ports- 
mouth, Gosport, Portsea, Exeter, Dartmouth, &c, to the 
like effect. The committee reported that the towns were 
"very much impoverished, and their trade lessened, by rea- 
son that several of the unhappy inhabitants, who, through 
ignorance or inadvertency, either run, imported, or bought 
goods, which had not paid the duties, are now confined in 
prison, and very few of them, if any, capable of making 
satisfaction for the same ; and that several of the persons, 
having given bail, are run away ; and most of the people 
under prosecution, are sea-faring men, who, in regard to 
their own safety, will, in all probability, be induced, if not 



142 GENERAL HISTORY. 

obliged, to withdraw themselves out of his majesty's 
dominions, as many of them have already done." There 
is reason to believe that the penalties, in many instances, 
were remitted. 

The severe measures of the government were not, 
however, fully successful. The dealing in contraband 
merchandize continued to be carried on with a degree of 
daring and desperation that almost defied the powers of 
the law : and an occurrence, in which Poole was concerned, 
bears evidence of the nature of this illicit trading, and the 
character of those who carried it on. This transaction 
gave rise to a powerful sensation at the time all over the 
country, and was the occasion of the government adopting 
more effective measures for prevention than had previously 
been had recourse to. These proceedings, which began in 
smuggling and ended in the execution of a considerable 
number of participators in one of the most brutal murders 
on record, were published at the time in a small volume. 
The following is an abstract : — In September, 1747, one 
John Diamond, or Dymar, agreed with a number of smug- 
glers, to go over to the island of Guernsey, to smuggle tea, 
where, having purchased a considerable quantity, on their 
return in a cutter, they were taken by one captain William 
Johnson, who carried the vessel and tea to the port of 
Poole, and lodged the tea in the custom-house there. 

The smugglers being very much incensed at this miscar- 
riage of their purchase, resolved not to sit down contented 
with the loss; but, on a consultation held among them, 
they agreed to go and take away the tea from the ware- 
house where it was lodged. Accordingly, a body of men, 
to the number of sixty, well armed, assembled in Charlton 
forest, and from thence proceeded on their enterprise ; to 
accomplish which they agreed, that only thirty of them 
should go upon the attack, and that the remaining thirty 
should be placed as scouts upon the different roads, to 
watch the motions of the officers and soldiers, and to be 



GENERAL HISTORY. 143 

ready to assist or alarm the main body, in case any opposi- 
tion should be made. 

The party deputed for the purpose arrived at Poole, 
about eleven o'clock on the nio-ht of the 6th of October, 
1747; when having- ridden down a little back lane, they 
came to the sea-side ; they here quitted their horses, leav- 
ing" two of the gano' to look after them, whilst the remainder 
proceeded to the custom-house, which they broke into 
with violence, and having broken open four doors, reached 
the warehouse in which the tea had been deposited. This, 
which amounted to about two tons weight, they secured 
and carried off. They carefully abstained from touching 
any other property, swearing that they came for their own, 
and would have it. 

They returned with their booty through Fordingbridge, 
in Hampshire, where some hundreds of people were assem- 
bled to view the cavalcade. Among the spectators was 
Daniel Chater, a shoemaker, known to Diamond, who 
shook hands with him as he passed along, and threw him a 
bag of tea. 

His majesty's proclamation coming out, with a promise 
of a reward for apprehending those persons who were 
concerned in breaking open the custom-house ; and Dia- 
mond having been taken into custody at Chichester, on 
suspicion of having been one of them : Chater mentioned 
the meeting at Fordingbridge, which coming to the know- 
ledge of the collector of the customs at Southampton, he 
sent William Galley (a king's officer) with Chater, to 
convey a letter to major Battin, a justice of the peace for 
Sussex, the purport of which was to desire an examination 
of Chater, in relation to what he knew of the affair, and 
whether he could prove the identity of Diamond's person. 

These two unfortunate men were entrapped by a gang 
of smugglers, who had obtained information of their jour- 
ney, and by whom they were most brutally murdered. 
The crime was brought to light six or seven months after- 



144 GENERAL HISTORY. 

wards, by the confession of one of the murderers whilst in 
custody on some other charge. Fifteen smugglers were 
concerned in the murder, many of whom were apprehended, 
and a special commission was issued to try them at Chich- 
ester, the crime having been committed in the county of 
Sussex. The trials lasted from the 16th to the 19th April, 
1748. Seven of the prisoners were convicted and execu- 
ted. On the 4th April, in the same year, five of the 
smugglers concerned in breaking open the custom-house 
at Poole, were indicted at the Old Bailey for that offence, 
and for stealing from the said custom-house, thirty-seven 
hundred-weight of tea, value £500 and upwards, on Oct. 
6, 1747. Four of them were convicted, of whom one was 
afterwards pardoned, and three others being executed. 

After these occurrences the government deemed it pru- 
dent to pursue more rigorous measures for the prevention 
of the traffic in contraband goods, and for thus checking 
the opportunity and temptation to such diabolical violence 
as was committed in this instance. 

A melancholy accident occurred in Poole harbour, 
March 10, 1759, when a passage boat, sailing from Poole 
to Wareham with 19 persons on board was driven on the 
mud, and 13 individuals perished in their attempts to reach 
the shore. 

In 1792 and the following years, when the demoniac 
frenzy of revolutionary France shook all the continental 
empires, and threatened the overthrow of all ancient 
government and constituted authority, and when our own 
shores were menaced with a Gallic invasion, Poole was 
garrisoned with forces arrayed to oppose the threatened 
attempt, and the loyal portion of the inhabitants here, as 
elsewhere, formed themselves into patriotic associations in 
defence of their country and its constitution. In order to 
promote a desire for serving the country, the corporation, 
Jan. 22, 1793, set apart from their funds £200 for aug- 
menting' the bounty offered to seamen on entering' his 



GENERAL HISTORY. 145 

majesty's service at this port ; and the sum of £100 was 
given by the representatives of the borough to the same 
purpose. And by way of setting a public example of 
attachment to the principles of hereditary monarchy, on the 
thirtieth of the same month, being the anniversary of the 
martyrdom of Charles I., the committee of ' the association 
against republicans and levellers' breakfasted with the 
mayor, and afterwards, dressed in mourning, attended him 
in procession to the church, where a sermon on the occasion 
was preached by the Rev. P. W. Jolliffe. 

An act of bravery, similar to those we have recorded at 
the close of the seventeenth century, again honoured some 
individuals belonging to Poole, in 1797. The brig * General 
Wolfe,' on its passage to Newfoundland from Poole, was 
taken, on the 19th of Oct., by a French privateer. The 
captain and eleven of the crew were taken on board the 
privateer, leaving of the brig's crew only the mate, Wm. 
Wellstood, a man named Hussey, and a lad on board, 
with twelve Frenchmen drafted from the privateer. On 
the 5th of November, the mate, his man, and the boy, 
assailed the Frenchmen, overpowered them, got possession 
of all the arms, and succeeded in bringing the brig into 
Cork harbour twelve days afterwards, when all the French- 
men were sent to Kinsale prison. 

Notwithstanding the efforts of a minor party in the 
town, who seized the oppr tunity afforded by a moment 
of public difficulty to make increased endeavours to 
embarrass the government, the inhabitants of Poole con- 
tinued, throughout the wars of the French revolution, to 
manifest highly patriotic conduct; and they cheerfully 
responded to the calls made upon their pecuniary and per- 
sonal service. In addition to the establishment of * armed 
volunteer associations,' subscriptions were repeatedly made 
for various purposes connected with the defence of the 
country, and for the relief of the wounded soldiers 
and seamen and their families. On one occasion, at a 

u 



146 GENERAL HISTORY. 

public meeting* of the inhabitants, held at the townhal!, 
Feb. 27, 1798, books were opened for the reception of 
voluntary contributions towards the defence of the country, 
and no less than thirteen hundred pounds were immediately 
subscribed. On the previous day, the corporation had 
voted a sum of five hundred pounds from their funds. 

During the early part of the war, Poole was appointed 
the general rendezvous for the militia regiments ; and for 
several years it was the scene of all the martial bustle and 
stirring occurrences that characterize a garrison town in 
the time of warfare. 

In 1814, the heroic achievements of England, by the 
indomitable spirit of a nation of freemen in arms, were 
triumphantly consummated in a succession of victories that 
overwhelmed the power of the French host, and beat down 
the daring ambition of Buonaparte. All England rang 
with the demonstrations of joy manifested on this occasion; 
in every town and village the inhabitants kept holiday, and 
a succession of national festivities, never equalled before or 
since, testified how general was the feeling of grateful 
rejoicing that prevailed. Poole was not behind other 
places in these indications* On the arrival of the news, the 
town was brilliantly illuminated on the evening of April 18 ; 
and on the following day, a ball at the townhall was 
attended by the principal inhabitants ; whilst on the suc- 
ceeding evening a display of fireworks closed these pre- 
liminary festivities. Preparations having been made for 
the purpose, a public dinner took place, embracing nearly 
the whole population of the town, without distinction of 
rank or circumstance, on the 26th of July. A committee of 
upwards of thirty gentlemen were entrusted with the ar- 
rangements, which were well disposed. The dinner was 
held in the market place and the adjoining streets, where, 
we are told, " not less than five thousand persons sat down 
to a most plentiful regale of old English fare, roast beef, 
plum pudding, and strong beer, attended by an excellent 



GENERAL HISTORY. 147 

band of music. But one distinctive place was allowed, 
which was for the president, the worshipful the mayor, 
Samuel Clark, esq., every other individual, gentle and 
simple, being promiscuously intermixed. One honest plum 
pudding, of about a hundred weight, was added to the 
number by George Garland, esq. After the dinner, 
many loyal toasts were drunk, and many excellent songs 
were sung. Amidst this vast concourse of people, not 
the slightest disorder occurred, and about six o'clock the 
company dispersed from the dinner tables, to partake of 
the remaining part of the festival* A select party of gen- 
tlemen having got up, at a considerable expense and labour, 
a very splendid collection of fireworks, a field was chosen 
for the occasion, in which also a spacious booth was erected, 
and tea and coffee made for the ladies." 

The commerce of Poole had been enhanced in 1810, by 
the port being made a free port ; an advantage to which 
its convenient situation, the safety of its harbour, and its 
spacious and commodious quays, well entitled it. 

In the year 1832, on the passing of the parliamentary 
reform act, and the collateral act for regulating the bound- 
aries of parliamentary boroughs, the adjoining tithings of 
Longfleet and Parkstone, and the parish of Hamworthy 
were annexed to the old borough of the town and county, 
for the purposes of parliamentary representation. And in 
1835, the act which passed the legislature for the regulation 
of municipal corporations, united the same district to the 
old borough for all municipal purposes, investing it with 
all the exempt and peculiar privileges theretofore exclu- 
sively enjoyed by the inhabitants of the territorv included 
within the old boundaries : so that from that time the 
aggregate district has formed one integral borough of 
"the county of the borough of Poole." 

We have thus traced, in some measure, the general and 
more fugitive historical particulars of the town of Poole, 
from its most remote existence, down to a period verging 



148 



GENERAL HISTORY, 



upon the present day. The municipal and ecclesiastical 
portions of the history have been left untouched, being 
deemed of sufficient importance to afford material for dis- 
tinct chapters. The town which we have first seen as the 
rude settlement of a few scattered stragglers, we have 
accompanied through the phases of its prosperity, until we 
leave it the first commercial port of the district in which it 
is situated. The hand of progressive civilization, the 
ameliorations of accumulated wealth, and the institutions 
of advancing society are everywhere discernable. The 
leading features of the town, in its modern state, its muni- 
cipal and religious edifices, its social and other institutions, 
and its statistical details, will, however, form the subject of 
subsequent pages. 




the town ceixak.— Vide pp. 92, 94. 



149 



€$e Municipal ^i^torp. 



It may be questioned whether any period could offer 
itself more favourable than the present for a calm and 
unbiassed investigation of a portion of the great political 
fabric, composed of those municipal establishments that 
form so important a feature in the British constitution. We 
stand almost upon the halting place between two distinct 
systems of municipal administration. The local associations 
which we have derived at least from our Saxon ancestors ; 
the municipal institutions of the kingdom, whose origin 
(however corruption and usurpation may have meddled 
with their operation and details) is coeval with the funda- 
mental liberties of the realm ; — these ancient establishments 
have been swept away by the recent enactments of par- 
liament, to be replaced by a new, untried, and uniform sys- 
tem of municipal government. That system may be truly 
termed new and untried, because, although in much it 
is analogous to the constitution of our boroughs in the 
Saxon and Norman times, yet the progress of literature, 
the arts, and commerce, the more extensive development 
of political freedom, and the varied relations of our national 
institutions, have materially altered the positions in which 
the diversified classes of the community stand in regard to 



150 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

each other, and induced a state of society altogether 
different from that in which our municipal associations 
took their rise. It is a question of grave import, and one 
to which the lapse of a few years will suffice to afford a 
decisive answer, whether the change that has been effected 
was politically expedient or just ;— whether institutions, 
that might have been admirably adapted to the circum- 
stances and requirements of our Saxon ancestors, — a 
people the framework of whose society was essentially 
different from that of the present day — can be advantage- 
ously recurred to after the nation has passed through so 
many ages of diverse rule, and undergone the ordeal of 
successive revolutions, alike in society and in government ; 
— whether the extinct corporate bodies had not varied 
from their Saxon originals chiefly in a gradual adaptation 
to the existing circumstances of each local community 
amongst which they were placed; — and whether, in short, 
it were not practical and more advantageous to correct 
acknowledged evils induced by usurpation, without sweep- 
ing away those arrangements that had been conventionally 
adopted in deference to the increasing wants and altered 
situations of the people. 

But this is a question with which it is hardly the province 
of the present work to deal ; and without entering into 
such discussion, it may be permitted to glance at the 
growth of municipal establishments, and to investigate their 
early formation and progress, particularly in so far as the 
historical incidents of the borough of Poole are affected 
by or affect the matter. No party purpose can now be 
served by such an enquiry into the rise of those corpora- 
tions that have become purely a matter of history. The 
fierce prejudices of party have subsided into the calm 
expression of dissentient opinions on questions that no 
longer affect the relations of rivalry ; and hence the subject 
may be treated dispassionately, without reference to any 
peculiar theory, and in regard only to the general bearing 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 151 

of facts and records. It is advantageous therefore to enter 
upon the consideration of the municipal history of a bo- 
rough at such a time, when prejudices are in abeyance, 
and when also it is desirable that the inhabitants of a town 
should have placed upon collective record the memorials 
of an institution that has been abandoned, after having" 
come down to their days as the accumulated legacy of 
many a century. 

The etymology of the word * borough' has been warmly 
contested, and is involved in much doubt; nor is it essen- 
tial whether we are to look for the appellation to a Greek 
or Teutonic origin. It is to the Saxon period of our 
national history that we must refer for the first clear indi- 
cations of those associations understood by the term 
* boroughs.' It seems tolerably evident, that at that 
period the word was applied to every city and town of 
importance, to which those of the people resorted who 
were free from the slavish services and from the arbitrary 
payments contingent upon tenures in villanage ; and who, 
though in some measure dependent upon the lord of the 
soil, were not so much at his disposal as his more 
immediate retainers and tenants; — such cities and towns 
enjoying a peculiar local jurisdiction and police, distinct 
from those of the shire, and being governed by their own 
officers chosen at the courts-leet holden under the authority 
of the king or lord. The title ' burgh wara' (burghers), 
which is the term used in the Saxon Chronicle to indicate 
the people of the boroughs, does not seem to denote an 
exclusive class possessed of any peculiarity of legal right, 
but the general body of the people in the town : they 
were " the permanent free inhabitants of the boroughs ; 
performing their duties and enjoying their privileges — as 
the free inhabitant householders, paying scot and bearing 
lot; presented, sworn, and enrolled at the court leet."& 



Mere-wether and Stephens : Hist : of Boroughs, v. 



152 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

One great object of the regulations of the Saxons was to 
check the practice of vagrancy; against this their laws 
were very severe, and many inducements were offered to a 
permanent residence : every man living in a borough for a 
year and a day, was required by the law to do his suit at 
the court leet, and he thereon became entitled to the 
privileges of a freeman, and was considered law-worthy. 
When the Saxon subjects were thus raised from the slavish 
condition of villanage, and became free-men, they were 
answerable to the law for themselves, whilst the lords were 
answerable for the conduct of the villans: they were 
admitted into the general system of pledges, by means of 
which freemen became responsible for the conduct of each 
other.^ Associated together for the purposes of trade 
and commerce, by the increase of which they became pos- 
sessed of wealth, the burgesses were thus raised into persons 
of comparative importance, and enabled to purchase from 
their lords considerable extension of privilege, and ex- 
emption from many servile duties. This concession of 
additional privileges, beyond those appurtenant to every 
borough by the provisions of general laws, was the object 
for which charters were granted by the kings and great 
lords. Thus arose that great framework of the chartered 
communities which were spread over the land, and which 
gradually introduced so great an alteration in the relations 
of society and the political institutions of the kingdom, 
by their importance, power, and privileges. 

The borough system experienced little alteration at the 
period of the conquest, and notwithstanding the prevalence 
of contrary opinions, it is manifest from the laws compiled 
and published by William the Conqueror, and by the great 



* This system of mutual pledges at the court leet, — by which every freeman was to 
be " put or set in pledge," i. e., to find one who should be surety to the law for his 
good behaviour, and that he should be forthcoming to answer the law if any thing 
should be imputed to him ; and if he did not, the pledge was to be responsible for 
him — was the principle upon which the firm basis of the simple but practical police 
of our Saxon ancestors was founded : and a vestige of this principle is left in operation 
to this day, in proceedings against the hundred. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 153 

fiscal record of Domesday Book^, that the provisions and 
spirit of the Saxon policy still continued to prevail, and 
were encouraged rather than suppressed by that monarch. 

Such then, in brief, was the nature and condition of 
boroughs and burgesses at the period when we find men- 
tion first made of Poole in its municipal character. It has 
been lately contended by powerful and enquiring writers 
on this branch of our history, (Merewether and Stephens,) 
that at this time there existed no boroughs of incorporation: 
that, in point of fact, the first charter of incorporation was 
granted in the reiffn of Henry VI. In all likelihood this 
position is correct in a technical point of consideration ; 
the period referred to is, perhaps, the earliest in which the 
words of incorporation are to be found ; but the reality of 
the thing, which, in such matters, is of more import- 
ance than the mere name, had certainly been long in 
existence : and whether the peculiar privileges necessary 
in the eye of the law to constitute a corporation, — viz., 
the power of suing and being sued by some corporate 
name, and the power of holding property in perpetuity by 
succession, — had or had not been expressly conceded by 
charter, it is clear that such powers had been deemed to 
belong to, and had been exercised by, the burgesses of 
boroughs. In Domesday and in other documents relating 
to the Saxon times, there are indications of the possession 
by burgesses of common property, held for the benefit of 
the body of the town's people — property which sometimes 
appears to have been enjoyed by the people in common, 
and at others to have been let out to persons who paid rent 
to the burgesses as landlords. 

The burgesses of Poole were in the position we have 
outlined, when they are first mentioned in the charter of 



■ Although many of the boroughs are expressly mentioned as such in Domesday 
Book, yet that record must not be taken as containing a list of all the boroughs then 
in existence. It is a striking instance, that -whilst the burgesses of London are men- 
tioned in its pages, London itself is not entered as a separate borough. 

X 



154 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

William Longespee, the lord of the manor, granted in 
1248^, in which the burgesses purchased many additional 
privileges to those which they had previously enjoyed. 
It is manifest, from the wording of this charter, that Poole 
had existed as a borough for a considerable time before 
the grant of these immunities, for Longespee speaks of 
the grantees as his " burgesses," and confirms their ancient 
privileges, and " free customs" &c. The charter is as 
follows : — 

" *f Sciant presentes et futuri quod ego Willelmus Lung- 
espee dedi et concessi et hac presenti carta mea confirmaui 
pro me et heredibus meis burgensibus meis de Pola et 
heredibus suis omnimodas libertates et liberas consuetudines 
et quietancias tarn corporum quam catallorum de telonio et 
omnibus aliis consuetudinibus et sectis faciendis extra bur- 
gum meum de Pola ad me uel heredes meos pertinentibus 
sicut liberi cives uel burgenses civitatum uel burgorum 
domini regis in tota Anglia habent quantum ad me siue 
predecessores meos vel heredes aliquo modo per totam 
terrain meam dinoscitur pertinere in terra mari portubus 
et passagiis saluis michi et heredibus meis de singulus 
navibus ad partes transmarinas peregrinos tranferantibus 
duobus solidis. Concessi eciam eisdem burgensibus pro 
me et heredibus meis quod ex seipsis quocienscunque 
fuerit necessarie eligant ad prefecturam dicti burgi mei de 
Pola sex burgensis ex qui bus ego et heredes mei pro tem- 
pore quemcunque eorum nobis viderimus expedire pre- 



* This charter bears no date on it ; but for reasons, which arc assigned, p. 78, this 
date has been fixed on. 

+ The following translation of the charter is subjoined: — " Know those present 
and those to come that I William Longespee have given and granted and by this 
my present charter have confirmed for me and mine heirs to my burgesses of Poole 
and their heirs all manner' of liberties and free customs and acquittances as well of 
their bodies as of their goods from toll and all other customs and suits to be done 
without my borough of Poole to me or mine heirs belonging as the free citizens or 
burgesses of the cities or boroughs of the lord the king have throughout all England 
as fully as to me or my predecessors or heirs in any manner was known to belong 
through all my land upon the land sea ports and passages saving to me and to mine heirs 
for every ship going to foreign parts beyond the seas two shillings. I have also granted 
to the same burgesses for me and mine heirs that out of themselves as often as need 
shall require they may choose for the government of my said borough of Poole six 
burgesses from whom I and mine heirs for the time being some one of them as to 
us shall seem fit will appoint our portreeve who shall faithfully upon his oath preserve 
the rights of us and our burgesses who truly if he be afterwards found less diligent in 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 155 

positum nostrum faciemus qui jura nostra et burgensium 
nostrorum prestito sacramento fidt liter conseruabit qui 
quidem si postmodum ad opus nostrum minus utilis 
inueniatur ilium admovebimus et ahum secundum formam 
predictam electum loco suo subrogabimus. Ego uero et 
beredes mei bedellum de dicto burgo pro uoluntate nostra 
in dicto burgo statuemus qui tactis sacrosanctis coram 
balliuis et burgensibus nostris jurabit quod omnia attachia- 
menta me uel heredes meos de jure contingencia undo 
commodum nostrum aliquo modo poterit peruenire fideliter 
et sine aliqua subtractione preposito nostro dicti burgi uel 
ballivis nostris si fuerint presentes prcsentabit. Balliui 
eciam mei et heredum meorum sexcies in anno placita 
nostra in predicto burgo nostro tenebunt de modiis et assisis 
fractis et omnibus aliis que ad nos de jure possunt 
pertinere scilicet in crastino circumcisionis et in octabiis 
purificationis beate marie et in crastino annunciacionis 
eiusdem et proximo die sabbati post hokedai et die martis 
proxime post festum sancte trinitatis et triduo ante sancti 
Petri que dicitur aduincula quod si in aliquibus dictorum 
terminorum uel infra placita aperta in eodem burgo 
cmerserint secundum consuetudinem burgorum et civitatum 
domini regis dicta placita per balliuos nostros pertractentur 
et in Judicium deducantur amerciamenta ex inde perueni- 
entia ad modum delicti per predictos balliuos nostros ad 
opus nostrum capiantur. Si uero contingat aliquis dicto- 
rum burgensium nostrorum terininis pretaxatis curie nostre 
per maris impcdimentum interesse non posse balliui 



our business we will amove and require another according to the form aforesaid to be 
chosen in his place. Moreover I and mine heirs a beadle of the said town will appoint 
in the said town according to our pleasure who upon his oath taken before our bailiffs 
and burgesses shall swear that all attachments touching the rights of me or mine 
heirs whereby our advantage may in any wise arise he will faithfully and without 
any delay present to our portreeve of the said borough or to our bailiffs if they shall 
be present. Moreover the bailiffs of me and mine heirs six times in a year shall hold in 
the said borough our pleas for the breach of measures and assize and all other things 
which to us of right appertain that is to say on the morrow of the circumcision and 
on the octaves of the purilication of the blessed Mary and on the morrow of the 
annunciation of the same and on the Saturday next after hokeday and on the Wed- 
nesday next after the feast of the H0I3* Trinity and the third day before Saint Peter 
which is called advineula so that if during any of the said terms or whilst the public 
pleas are holden within the said borough according to the custom of the boioughs and 
cities of the lord the king the said pleas shall be heard and brought to judgment by 
our said bailiffs the amerciaments therefrom arising according to the offence shall be 
taken by our aforesaid bailiffs for our use. Moreover if it should happen that any of 
our said burgesses in the fixed terms of our court should be disabled from attending 
through the hiiulrance of the sea our bailiffs shall in nowise account their absence by 



156 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

nostri abscntiam suam nullomodo reputabint defalcatam set 
cum redierint et aliqua placita aperta contra eos interim 
fuerint emersa secundum predictam consuetudinem coram 
balliuis nostris juri parere compellantur. Cum uero mer- 
catores extranei quicunque fuerint ad portum dicti burgi 
nostri applicuerint et ab inde cum festinacione recedere 
uoluerint et interim in aliquo deliquerint quod prepositum 
nostrum et burgenses nostros possit emendari uolo pro me 
et heredibus meis quod si balliui nostri fuerint absentes 
per prepositum nostrum et fideles burgenses nostros emende 
talis delicti capiantur et balliuis nostris fideliter persol- 
uantur. Et dicti mercatores libere et quiete recedant saluo 
tamen michi et heredibus meis de singulis uasis alienigena- 
rum blada venalia apportantibus per conductionem modii 
curie mee de Kaneford eisdem ad mensurandum bladum 
suum comodato vno bussello bladi. Cum uero rex 
quicunque fuerit de ciuitatibus siue burgis suis tallagium 
ceperit secundum consuetudinem ciuitatum et burgorum 
suorum de dictis burgensibus meis michi et heredibus meis 
tallagium capere licebit. Volo eciam pro me et heredibus 
meis quod dicti burgenses habeant bene et pacifice animalia 
sua quieta de herbagio in brueria mea prout semper 
consueuerunt et necessaria ad focum suum in brueriis et 
turbariis per uisum ballivorum meorum. Pro hoc autem 
donacione et concessione et presentis carte confirmacione 
dederunt michi predicti burgenses sexaginta decern 
marcas pennanibus. Vnde ego et heredes mei dictas liber- 



default but when they return and any pleas opened against them meanwhile shall be 
hoklen according to the aforesaid custom they shall be compelled by right to appear 
before our bailiffs. Moreover when any stranger merchants whoever they may be shall 
resort to the port of our said borough and desire to return from thence with speed 
and meanwhile have done default in any thing which our portreeve and our burgesses 
may amend I will for me and mine heirs that if our bailiffs be absent that our portreeve 
and our faithful burgesses shall take redress of such default and shall faithfully repay 
the same to our bailiffs and the said merchants freely and quietly may depart saving 
however to me and mine heirs from every foreign vessel bringing corn for sale one 
bushel of corn for the use of the measure belonging to my court at Kaneford for the 
measuring of their said corn. Moreover when the king whomsoever he be shall take 
tallage of his cities or boroughs according to the custom of his cities and boroughs it 
shall be lawful for me and mine heirs to take tallage of my said burgesses. I will also 
for me and mine heirs that the said burgesses shall have well and peaceably their 
cattle quit of herbage in my heaths as always they have been accustomed and neces- 
saries for their firing in the heaths and turbaries by the view of my bailiffs. And for 
this grant and concession and the confirmation of this present charter the aforesaid 
burgesses have given to me by their hands seventy marks wherefore I and mine heirs 
arc held to warrant for ever the said liberties to the said burgesses and their heirs and 
in order that all the aforesaid may obtain strength in perpetual validity I have given 
corroboration to this charter by the putting of my seah These witnessing &c." 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 15? 

tates dictis burgensibus et eorum licredibus in perpetuum 
warentizare teaemur. Vt autem omnia predicta perpetue 
firmitatis robur obtineant presentem cartam sigilli mei 
impressione duxi roborandam. Hiis testibus^ Dominis 
Euerardo Cevonico Thoma de Hyneton Rogero de 
Leborne Johanne de Barentino Militibus Raduipho 
de Aungers Thoma de Hyneton juniori Magistro 
Waltero Salsator Petro de Salceto Domino Simone 
Berenger Raduipho persona de Vppvinborne Thoma 
Makerel et Valentino clericis et multis aliis." 

This charter, purchased by the burgesses of Poole of 
their lord, at a time when his military undertakings ren- 
dered it necessary that every pecuniary resource at his 
command should be rendered available, is of importance 
on many accounts. The first municipal record in existence 
relating to Poole, it stands as the germ from which sprung, 
by gradual process, that complicate system of local juris- 
diction, which has been since found of great value and 
importance to the inhabitants. And the document must 
be also looked upon with interest, as affording" an unerring 
indication that Poole was, even in that early day, a com- 
mercial town of considerable traffic, and its inhabitants a 
race of comparatively wealthy burghers. That it had 
previously possessed the essentials of a borough, is evident 
from the language of the grant itself ; whilst the "ships 
sailing to foreign parts' 9 (ad partes transmarine® peregrinos 
transfer anlibus J ', and the " stranger merchants" (merca- 
tores extranij, present an idea of more bustle and trade 
than would appertain to a quiet fishing village : and the 
sum paid by the burgesses as the purchase-money of this 
charter of their privileges is sufficient in amount to satisfy 
us, that the commerce of the port had not been carried on 
unprosperously.-f* 



• Charters were formerly executed with so much notoriety, that there was no 
occasion for the witnesses to set their own names, that being done by the clerk in 
the presence of them all. 

-• The sum given by the burgesses proves the high estimation in which they re- 
garded the privileges bestowed on them in this charter: for, although "seventy 



158 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

The privileges of which the document treats were of 
considerable importance. To be invested with all the 
liberties and free customs and acquittances from toll which 
free citizens or burgesses of the cities and boroughs of the 
king- had ; — to be free from pleading or being impleaded 
without the limits of the borough, and to have a court for 
the holding of pleas within the borough, six times in the 
year, were rights of no slight value. And beyond these, 
the burg-esses had a confirmation of their ancient freedom 
of herbage and turbary in the manor of Canford ; — a free- 
dom which the inhabitants enjoyed under this grant, until 
the passing of the enclosure act, a few years since, when 
allotments, in lieu thereof, were made to the holders of 
messuages in Poole. 

The portreeve (prepositus)^ who was appointed under 
this charter to be the head-ruler in the borough, was the 
same officer, and possessed the same powers as the mayor 



marks" (£4S 13s. 4cl.) appears a trifling sum in these days, yet a little enquiry into 
the value of money as a medium of barter in the period at which this transaction took 
place, cannot fail to excite surprise at the result. Under the Anglo-Norman kings, 
the pound of silver was divided into twenty shillings, each shilling being then, as 
now, divided into twelve pence. All authorities agree that in those times, the pound 
contained three times as much silver as is contained in the pound sterling of the pre- 
sent day ; but they are by no means unanimous when they proceed to consider how 
much more three times as much silver was worth then than now. Some estimate the 
difference so high as twenty to one : others place it so low as five : according to Hume 
it is ten : according to Lyttleton and Henry, it is five. But, whatever may have been 
the case seventy years ago, there appears to be every reason to believe that the differ- 
ence in value between any quantity of silver at the time referred to, and the value of 
the same quantity at the present time, is at least as much as ten to one. We find in 
bishop Fletcher's Chronicon Preciosum, that, in the time of Henry I., forty sheep 
were valued at one pound, and that a stalled ox was worth one shilling. In 1145, an 
ox was worth three shillings; and 9, Richard I., (1198), an ox was valued also at 
three shillings, and a sheep at four pence, [Madox, Exc : 643]. If we multiply this 
sum of three shillings by three to allow for the diminished quantity of silver, and then 
by ten, the product will be four pounds ten shillings, a moderate price for a lean ox 
at the present day. In 1185, the tenants of Shirebum were by custom to pay either 
four hens or two pence. Apply the same rule, and it raises the price of each hen to 
one shilling and three pence, a common price for a hen in country markets at the pre- 
sent time. In 4, Henry III., (1220), we findfrom Madox that a cart was valued at half 
a mark ; and a horse at eight shillings. The same proportion is here evident. Thus 
the seventy marks paid to Longespee contained as much silver as three times that 
nominal amount in this day, or £140 ; whilst, as a medium of barter, the sum is equi- 
valent in actual value to one thousand four hundred pounds. 

* There is a document in the Canford court records, where the word " prepositus" 
is thus translated " Anglice reeve." 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 159 

under subsequent charters ; and the mode of his appoint- 
ment by the nomination of six burgesses out of the general 
body, of whom the lord was to select one, was continued 
down to the grant of the charter, 10th Elizabeth. 

In an inquisition taken in 1312, on the death of Henry 
de Lacy, earl of Lincoln, lord of the manor, it was 
returned that the burgesses of Poole held a free borough, 
paying a fee-farm rent of £8 13s. 4d. 

In an inquisition, ad quod damnum, taken June the 
7th, 1341, before the king's escheator, it is certified, 
amongst other things, that the town of Poole was a free 
borough ; that the burgesses had been accustomed to 
receive time out mind from vessels trading at the port, 
certain port dues therein specified, in aid of the farm of 
the borough ; and that it would not be to the loss or 
prejudice of the crown or others, if the crown granted to 
the burgesses of Poole a charter of the aforesaid customs, 
and all customs and liberties which the burgesses of 
Melcomb had by charter from the crown. No such 
charter, however, was granted at that time. 

About this time the portreeve (prepositus) seems to have 
assumed the title of mayor^ ; as April 26, 1364, the mayor 
and barons of Winchelsea issued a certificate, under their 
seal, touching the extent of the admiralty jurisdiction exer- 
cised by the mayor and burgesses fles mair et burgyses) 
of Poole. But there appears no adequate authority for 
this change of title, until the year 1371, when, June 10, a 
charter was granted by William de Montacute, earl of 
Salisbury, and lord of the manor of Canford and Poole, to 
the burgesses of Poole. 

This charter contains xi recital and inspeximus of the 
charter of William Longespee, all the liberties and privi- 
leges of which are confirmed by the earl to the burgesses 



* What particular advantages were to be derived by the burgesses from the " reeve" 
lvaving the Norman name of "mayor," instead of his latin name " propositus," it 
is difficult to say : unless it was to make the head officer of the borough, less like the 
inferior officer oi reeve or baililf of the lord.— Merewether and Stephens, 658. 



160 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

and their heirs. It also grants, that the defaults of the 
assize of bread and ale broken, as also the amerciaments of 
measures, reserved, in Longespee's charter, to him and his 
heirs, should thenceforth for ever be and remain to the 
burgesses and their heirs and successors; reserving in 
consideration thereof, to the earl and his heirs, the fine of 
half a mark, to be paid at the first court day, and the fine 
of eighteen pence, to be paid at the other five courts of the 
year, holden before the lord or his steward. It further 
provides, that the portreeve should thenceforth be called 
" mayor," and that he and his successors should " have the 
government according to the customs aforesaid, and in 
manner as of other the king's cities and boroughs of our 
said borough for ever, as always in times past they have 
been accustomed to have, and as our said portreeves 
hitherto have had." The grant of turbary is likewise 
confirmed by this charter. 

This document was written in chirograph^, the one part 
being ensealed by the earl, and the other with the " com- 
mon seal" of "the mayor and burgesses." The fines 
mentioned in this charter were paid, together with the chief 
rent, and a further sum of ten pence for a pound of wax 
and a pound of cummin, in the whole £6 lis. 7Jd., by 
the inhabitants of Poole to the lord of the manor of Can- 
ford, till the enclosure act passed. 

Feb. 8, 1410-11. By a charter under this date, Thomas 
de Montacute, earl of Salisbury, recites and confirms to 
the burgesses of Poole and their heirs, the grants of Lon- 
gespee and William de Montacute, without conferring any 
additional privileges. 

We now approach the period at which the first royal 



* A chirograph was a writing or deed consisting most commonly of two parts both 
of the same tenor, whereof one of the parties concerned was to have one part, and the 
other the other part. For which purpose the deed was written twice on the same 
parchment, and between the body of each part was written the word " cirographum" 
in capital letters, and cut through in the middle of those letters rectilinear, or 
indentwisc. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 161 

grant was made to the borough of Poole. Henry VI., 
a.r. 11, July 8, 1433, by authority of parliament, issued 
letters patent^ to the effect that, — considering the weakness 
and insufficiency of the port of Melcomb for merchants 
resorting thither with goods and merchandizes, arising 
from the scarcity of the people there; that the port of 
Poole was inhabited by a great multitude of people, and 
was secure and sufficient for ships to resort thither; and that 
the mayor and burgesses proposed to wall, entrench, and 
fortify the town and port, and parts adjacent ; — the king, 
with the advice of the lords spiritual and temporal, and 
commons, in parliament assembled, gave licence to the 
mayor and burgesses to fortify the town and port of Poole ; 
ordered that the port of Melcomb, after the next feast of 
St. Hilary, should be no longer a port, but a creek ; and 
granted that the port of Poole, from such feast, should be 
one of the king's ports for shipping and unloading all sorts 
of merchandizes, as well home-bred as foreign, and all 
kinds of merchandizes belonging to the staple; that the 
mayor should have cognizance of the staple-f*, and have the 
same franchises and liberties as the mayor of Southampton. 



* The king's loiters patent were delivered open, having the great seal, from which 
they derive their legal existence, attached to the bottom. They are presumed to he of 
a public nature, addressed to all the king's subjects ; and carry with them whatever 
extent of privilege or power, or rank, or property, the crown may think proper to 
bestow. The close rolls, on the contraiy, are records of such instruments as were 
despatched closed or sealed up, and were of a more private nature, being addressed to 
one or two individuals only, and were, in many cases, the authority to the chancellor 
for issuing the letters patent. To these documents the king's privy seal was 
attached : they were folded up and tied round with apiece of silk. 

Charters, like letters patent, passed under the great seal : and the principal distinc- 
tion between a charter and a patent is that the former was witnessed by such persons 
as were present when it was executed, whose testimony to its execution was necessary 
for its validity ; and that the latter was executed by the king himself. There is also 
a slight variation in the address. A charter usually commences in these words: — 
" The king to all his archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, earls, barons, justices, 
sheriffs, reeves, ministers, and all his faithful subjects, greeting :" — but a patent com- 
mences thus: — "The king to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting." 
Charters are sometimes confirmed by letters patent, — [Nicholas on the Public Records.] 

t Torts of the staple were those ports licenced to import and export the goods of 
the staple, and having a court, presided over by the mayor of the staple, and governed 
by the law merchant in a summary way, which is the law of the staple. The privi- 
leges of ports of the staple, which were originally held by towns in Flanders, were, by 



]C2 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

This grant affords a distinct instance in disproof of the 
doctrine asserted by Spelman, followed by many other 
authors, that boroughs were walled towns. It may be 
inferred, from the charter of Longespee, that Poole was a 
borough before the time of legal memory^ ; yet from this 
document it is clear, that up to the period of which we are 
now treating, the town was not fortified. This licence to 
wall, intrench, and fortify the town, was by several statutes 
rendered necessary, before any fortifications could be 
erected. 

It has also been assumed by some writers on municipal 
institutions, that the holding a market was essential to the 
constitution of a borough ; but this position likewise is 



the statute of the 27th Edward III. (statutum de stapulis), removed to certain porta 
in England, to the number of which a few others were added by subsequent monarchs. 
This statute contains a most complete code of laws for the regulation of the merchants 
who attended the staples of wool, and gives the most summary justice upon all con- 
tracts entered into during the continuance of these great marts. The staple merchan- 
dizes, according to lord Coke, weie only wool, woolfells, leather, lead, and tin ; others 
add butter, cheese, and eloths ; and afterwards staple goods were generally understood 
to be such as were vendible, and not subject to perish, of any kind. The mayor and 
constables of the staple not only had cognizance of all contracts and debts relating to 
these, but they had likewise jurisdiction over the people and all manner of things 
touching the staple : this power was given them, lest the merchants should be diverted 
and drawn from their business and trade by applying to the common law, and run- 
ning through the tedious forms of it, for a determination of their differences, and for 
the greater encouragement of merchants, that they might have all imaginable security 
in their contracts and dealings, and the most expeditious method of recovering their 
debts, without going out of the bounds of the staple. Other advantages, moreover, 
arose from the establishment of these ports of the staple, for at them the king's cus- 
toms were easily collected, and were, by the officers of the staple, at two several 
payments, returned into the exchequer ; besides, all merchants' goods were carefully 
viewed and marked by the proper officers of the staple ; and this necessarily pre- 
vented the exportation of decayed goods or ill-wrought manufactures. 

The statute staple (of which there are some precedents [t. Edward VI.] still exist- 
ing in an old book in the municipal archives of Poole) was a bond of record 
acknowledged before the mayor of the staple, in the presence of all or one of the 
constables ; and to all obligations made on recognizances so acknowledged the statute 
required that a seal, ordained for that purpose, should be affixed ; and this seal of the 
staple was the only seal necessary to attest the contract. These courts have gone 
into disuse ; but the seal belonging to the staple court of Poole is still in existence. 
It bears the legend—" Sigill: Stapule in pobtu de Pole." 

* It being enacted that " no lands or tenements, rights or liberties, which had been 
enjoyed in the reign of Henry II., should require to be proved by any charter or 
document in writing ; but that it should be sufficient to shew that they had been used 
in the reign of Henry II.," and the common law having adopted the same principle, 
the first year of Richard I. is termed '* the period of legal memory." 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 163 

refuted by the document to which we arc about to refer* 
and by which it appears that Poole had existed as a 
borough for at least upwards of two hundred years before 
the holding of a market had been conceded to it bv charter* 
Investigation, indeed, confirms the conclusion adopted at 
the commencement of this chapter, that, in the early times* 
all important towns were regarded as boroughs, without 
any especial grant of privilege ; and that the free inhabitant 
householders, paying scot and bearing lot, and duly en- 
rolled, were the burgesses. 

The document to which we refer, is a charter granted 
by Henry VI., and confirmed, by authority of parliament, 
in the 31st year of his reign, July 1, 1453, by which the 
king conceded to the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and 
inhabitants of the town of Poole, their heirs and suc- 
cessors, the privilege of holding a weekly market on 
Thursday, and two fairs, viz., on the feast of St. Philip 
and St. James, and for seven days next following ; and on the 
day of All Souls, and for seven days next following ; with 
all liberties and free customs to such markets and fairs 
appertaining, with freedom from purveyance. And it was 
also granted that the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and inha- 
bitants, their heirs and successors, might hold, all manner 
of pleas for trespasses, and bargains, and other matters 
arising during the said fairs, in the court of the said mayor, 
bailiffs, burgesses, and inhabitants, before the mayor and 
bailiffs, so that no justice, escheator, sheriff, steward, 
marshal, coroner, clerk of the market, or other bailiff or 
minister of the king should interfere : and that all persons 
resorting to the said fairs, in coming there, tarrying, or 
returning therefrom, should be free from ail arrests and 
disturbances of the said officers. 

Edward IV., in the 1st year of his reign, January 20, 
14G1-2, by letters patent, confirmed to the " mayor and 
burgesses of the town of Poole and their successors," the 
grant of the 11th Hcnrv VI. This confirmation was made 



164 MUNICIPAL HISTORY* 

on the ground, that Henry VI. having been king " de facto 
and not de jure," such confirmation was required to 
render the grant valid. 

Henry VIII., by letters patent, issued in the 3rd year of 
his reign, June 20, 1511, confirmed to the "mayor and 
burgesses of our town of Poole, and to their successors," 
the grants of 11th Henry VI., 31st Henry VI., and 1st 
Edward IV. 

In the 12th year of the same reign, a grant was issued, 
bearing the authority of the sign manual, — reciting that 
the burgesses and inhabitants of Poole were destitute of 
wood for their necessary fuel, " and knowe not where to 
make provision thcrof, onelesse than they may hatte it out 
of or' counties of Southampton and Sussex," — and licencing 
them to buy and provide, from time to time, within tho 
said counties, as much wood, for ready money, as they 
might need, any letters of commission or other command- 
ment of the king theretofore made notwithstanding.^ 

In the 18th year of Henry VIII., Sept. 4, 1526, 
a grant was made by Arthur Plantagenet, viscount Leslie, 
vice-admiral to Henry, duke of Richmond, lord high 
admiral of England, — containing an inspeximus of the 
charter of William de Montacute, and the subsequent con- 
firmations, — and exempting the mayor, brethren, bailiffs, 
burgesses, and inhabitants of Poole, in all their possessions 
and liberties by land and sea, from all kind of power 
and jurisdiction of the admiral of England. 

In the 34th year of the same reign, 1542, letters patent, 
confirmed by act of parliament, were issued, licencing the 
mayor, burgesses, and inhabitants to erect a windmill and 

* So great was the regard had in ancient times to the preservation of the royal, 
forests, that strict limitations were put to the felling of trees, which could only be 
done by express commandment : indeed such care was taken to prevent the diminu- 
tion of trees, that in the time of Edward II., we find that orders were issued for the 
destruction of woodpeckers, on the ground that the perforations made by their bills 
induced the decay of the wood. We also learn from this grant, how limited was the 
me at that time of pit-coal, which, although discovered so early as the time of the 
ancient Britons, did not come into general use before the time of Charles I. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 165 

conduit head. An abstract of this grant has been given. 
ante, p. 97. 

Proceedings were undertaken by the attorney-general, 
in the 3rd and 4th of Philip and Mary, on a writ of quo 
warranto, against William Newman, mayor, and the 
burgesses and inhabitants of Poole; and it appears that 
they had been called upon to produce their authorities for 
the various privileges they exercised ; and by their plea 
they insisted upon their liberties and franchises, and produce 
divers letters patent, and other charters and muniments, 
whereupon a nolle prosequi was entered by the attorney- 
general. 

Queen Elizabeth, in the 1st year of her reign, issued 
letters patent of the 18th Feb., 1558-9, containing an 
inspeximus, recital, and confirmation of the charter of 
Longespee, and of the subsequent charters granted by the 
lords of the manor of Canford. 

We are now arrived close upon a period at which the 
most important alterations were effected in the municipal 
regulations of Poole by the charter of the 10th of Eliza- 
beth ; and before entering upon a consideration of those 
alterations, it will be desirable to pause here, to record a 
few scattered fragments, and particularly to enquire into 
the changes which up to this period had gradually crept 
into the constitution of the borough, and the operation of 
the various charters from the first grant of Longespee. 

The earliest books now preserved in the municipal 
archives, commence about the middle of the sixteenth 
century. The entries prior to the 10th of Elizabeth, are 
scanty and vague ; and it appears that immediately after 
the grant of that charter, new and regular books were 
opened for recording the transactions of the corporation, 
and have been continued in regular series down to this 
day. The records prior to that time now in existence, 
are clearly not the whole that were kept. What has 
become of those which cannot now be found, is uncertain. 



166 MUNlCIfrAt HISTORY* 

Probably some of them shared in the destruction foolishly 
and culpably effected in the manner described by the late 
Mr. Foot, the town clerk, who deposed in his evidence 
in the case of Rex v. Strong', that he had been informed 
by the executor of a former town clerk, that at the decease 
of that officer, he, as his executor, had become possessed 
of several large bundles of corporation papers, some of 
which, being very ancient, he considered of no value, and 
therefore destroyed them. 

Amongst the records still preserved is a terrier, without 
date, of " stin landes tennents closes and gardins leying 
wythin the towene of Poole belonging to the sayd 
towene/ ' The following items occur, amongst others, in 
this document : — 

" The passage purchased and maintained by the towne over against the 
great keye, the yearly rent of the same being one^couple of capons, 
paid to the bailiff of the towne. — Quit rent 2d. 

*' The great keye, porchasyd edefyd and buylded by the towne. — Quit 
rent 2d. 

u The allmes howese wth in the towene of Poole to the same belonging, 

and holden owte of mind. — Quit rent 6d. 
" A little prison by the quay called Salisbury — of which the quit rent 

is a pepper-corn. 
" All the common ground within Poole gates, as the West Butts, Great 

Pydwins, Little Pydwins, and Bayter. Same quit rent. 

" A market house in the Pyllorye Street. Same quit rent." 

The book also contains a series of mayors' accounts 
from 1560 to 1566, from which we are enabled to ascer- 
tain the nature of the income and disbursements on the 
town's behalf, at that time. 

The receipts are chiefly composed of the rents of the 
various premises belonging to the town, consisting of about 
twenty parcels. There are, however, occasional payments 
from other sources, as the following : — 

" 1561. — Rcsseved of Mr. Byngley ye 5 of December, for 
the legasy of Mr. Scryven geven to the allmes howese hi." 

The disbursements were more varied, and comprised 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 107 

such as under: — 

" 1561. [First half year — the accounts being made up half yearly.] 

I. s. d. 
The plumber of Shasbcre for 5 days about the church. , .,090 

[There are very many similar entries.] 

For 4S quarrelles abowte the church wyndes at l|d. each 

and for clored glass Is. 2d 7 2 

For lead used about the church 2 15 2 

For casting the above 17 

The plumber's fee due at Woodeberyetyde 6 8 

For a callinder and the x comandemts for y£ church .... 1 4 

For a quyer of paper « . 4 

To Robert Clarke for keping of ye clocke, and rynging the 

corfebell 8 0" 

The receipts for the first half year of 1561 amount to 13?. 10s. 10c?., the 
disbursements for the same time to 91. 2s. Id. 

In the subsequent disbursements the following entries 
occur amongst others : — 

" For a piece of timber for the almes house 3 3 

[There are many other payments for work done at the alms house.] 

To Mr. Hussey for his fee due at Xtmas 1 O 

To Mr. Hooper for ditto 1 

To Mr. Hussey for the peruse of or charter 1 

For Mr. Newman's costs and mine [Mr. Green] in London 
over and besides xl. yt I ressd of Crystoffer Havelond 

and Xpoffer Rose 2 5 6 

For a baryll of olives yt Mr. Notherell then mayor had to 

give my lord T. Howard 8 6 

For the rest of and uppon a stin acomptatmy [Mr. Green] 
being in London in sewte for stin pryvyleges for ye 
towne and for powder and shott for y e castell and 
ordenans, and allso for that I was a borgess of par- 
liament 13 18 3 

To Mr. Giles Estcourte of Sarum half of the interest of 
50?. lent by him to the town 3 

For frayght of the quene's maiesties ordenans yt was had 
owte of the castell of brownseye 2 10 

Payed for a hogsed of wyne yt the towne gave vnto my 
lorde Montioie 2 5 

P<1 for a quarte of bastard yt I sent to Mr. Poole at his 
being here to remember us for the towene to my lorde 
Montioye 6 

Pay id vnto lyttyle Thorns for weding ye comon 6" 

In one of his periodical visitations about this time, the 
Clarencieux king at arms attended at Poole, and exem- 
plified the arms of the borough, viz., barry of 8, sable and 
vert ; over all a dolphin naiant argent ; on a chief of 



168 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

the third_iwo escallops of the first. The following is a 
copy of the record of his confirmation : — 

" These be y e armes appertaininge and belonginge to 
the maire baylyfes burgesys and inhabitaunce of the towne 
of Poole and to all the corporacion of the same ; which 
inhabitance of the said towne of Poole as appered by 
auncyent charters to me in. my visitacion shcwen were 
incorporated by William Longespee erle of Sarum by the 
name of port ryve baylyfe and burgesyes of his towene of 
Poole, persell of his manor of Candford, which corporacion 
was ratyfyed aumplifyed and confirmed by William 
Monteacute erle of Sarum, by y e name of his mayor 
baylyfe and burgesyes of his said towne and borough of 
Poole, which towne and borough of Poole is now the 
inheritaunce of James Blount, knyghte, lord Mountioye, 
as in the right of his said manner of Candford. The 
whiche armes above sett forthe I Clarencieulx kynge of 
armes have ratified and confirmed unto the mayre baylyfe 
burgesyes and inhabitants of the said towne burough of 
Poole in this my present visitacion within y e countye of 
Dorset and at this present William Bydlecom [qu. Byng- 
ley] mayre ; Ambrosse Benet, baylyfe ; X potter Rosse, 
andPeter Gaydon, constables; John Man, John Northerell, 
.... Ellybred, John Davys, William Newman, Thomas 
Byngley, Richard Goddarde, William Evene, John Han- 
eocke, burgesyes." 

This confirmation by Clarencieux is without date ; but 
it bears internal evidence from which we may arrive at 
some conclusion on this point. The manor of Canford 
came into the possession of James Blount, lord Mountjoy, 
under the will of the marchioness of Exeter, who died 
1558. He died between 1567 and 1571. The visitation 
must therefore have taken place between 1558 and the 
latter mentioned year. But a difficulty arises from the 
circumstance, that between those periods there was no 
mayor named William Bydelcom. It is not improbable, 
however, that the visitation was in 1563, during the mayor- 
alty of William Byngley, and that a mistake originated in 
the similarity of the names. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 169 

In entering" upon a consideration of the state of the 
borough, so far as its municipal government was con- 
cerned, immediately before its elevation to the dignity and 
privileges of a county corporate, it will be well to trace the 
progress of that government from the time of the charter 
of Longespee. By that charter, the chief authority in the 
borough was vested in the mayor, who was to be appointed 
by the lord or his steward, out of six individuals, nomi- 
nated by the burgesses at large and presented for that 
purpose at the annual court leet of the manor. This course 
was recognized by all the legal documents down to the 
charter of the 10th Elizabeth ; but we find that by process 
of time, this practice underwent changes, the effects of 
which, though at first imperceptible, were ultimately of 
great extent. The nominees for the office of mayor were 
originally selected by the burgesses at large, and presented 
by them to the lord's steward, through the jury at the court 
leet ; but the jurors gradually relinquished this instrumental 
character, and assumed the exclusive practice of nomination. 
That jury was, undoubtedly, composed of the most sub- 
stantial, intelligent, and respectable burghers : — men in 
whom, from their character, their wealth, and consequent 
interest in maintaining the rights and welfare of the town, 
their fellow burgesses could safely place their confidence ; 
and in looking to the state of society at that time, and the 
intimate manner in which its various relations were interwo- 
ven, it is not a matter of surprise that the inhabitants should 
tacitly and conventionally delegate to such a body this 
power of nomination. It is necessary to bear in mind this 
delegation of power to the court leet jury, with regard to 
the appointment of the mayor, because we here discern the 
germ from which expanded, in after years, that system of 
exclusion and self-election which prevailed in the corpo- 
rate body. That the jury absorbed the power of nomi- 
nation, is not a matter of assumption; for nothing can 
be clearer, from the records of the borough, than the 



170 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

existence of such a change in the system. Many are the 
entries which establish the fact ; it will suffice to extract one 
instance. On the 30th of Sept., 1567, ten pounds were paid 
by Mr. Constantine " in consideration that the tivelve men 
should put him in the election to be mayor, and had not 
been before that time bailiff or constable, which was done 
contrary to the order and accustomed election/' There 
can be little question that the "twelve men" were 
the court leet jury. It is also evidenced by this entry, that 
the practice of taking offices by rotation, which prevailed 
down to a very recent period, was of ancient origin.^ 

But at this time, though the mayor was the chief officer 
in the borough, yet he was not vested with the sole power 
in municipal administration, for we find associated with 
him the bailiffs, and " his brethren." 

The word " bailiff" is first introduced in the charter of 
the 31st Henry VI. : why, or how the office had been 
created, does not clearly appear. It must have sprung 
into existence subsequently to the charter of William de 
Monteacute ; probably as a matter of conventional con- 
venience, for the better administration of the municipal 
affairs ; and, in all likelihood, the past mayor was regarded 
as the bailiff for the year succeeding that of his mayoralty 
— a practice which prevailed from beyond the reach of 
memory or the mention of record, down to the extinction 
of the late corporate body. The words " burgesses and 
inhabitants," in the same charter, offer but a cumulative 
mode of expression, customary in the legal records of the 
period ; and there is no reason to infer, from this or any 
other circumstance, that down to this time there existed 
in the borough any recognized select body of burgesses, 
distinct from those inhabitants qualified as such under the 
old Saxon and Norman system. 



* The practice, until within a few years past, was to consider no one eligible to the 
office of sheriff, but such persons as had served the office of water bailiff or coroner j 
and after serving the office of sheriff, he was eligible to the office of mayor, and whilst 
in such office was a justice of course by the charter : after which he became an alder- 
man, and was eligible to the office of senior bailiff and justice of the peace. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 171 

The term " brethren," which is first found in the grant 
of Arthur Plantagenet, 1526, is synonimous with the word 
" aldermen" afterwards introduced, and was used to de- 
signate those who had passed the magisterial chair, as is 
learnt from an ordinance dated May 2, 1545, " takin by 
the advvsse of the maver beino" at this tyme Thomas 
Whytte y e elder with the advvsse of all his brothers, that 
ys Rychard Havylond, William Bedelcom, Wvlliam Ha~ 
vylonde, John Man, John Notherell, that hathe byne 
may&rs" The term occurs frequently about this time, and 
his brethren appear to have been associated with the 
mayor in nearly all his official functions ; insomuch that 
they became parties to leases and other similar transactions. 
In 1541, "the mayor and all his brethren in number 
eight," — " with the assent of the bailiff and commonalty," 
demised the ferry and passage house for 51 years to John 
Henbury, in consideration of a fine of 40s., and subject to 
the yearly rent of a couple of capons. The term fell gra- 
dually into disuse after the charter of the 10th Elizabeth, 
though it was preserved in the mayor's oath until the dis- 
solution of the late corporate body. 

But at this time we find, besides the mayor, bailiff, and 
brethren, another class of persons mentioned in the records, 
who appear to have taken part in all deliberations on 
municipal matters, and who were of considerable import- 
ance in the government of the borough. These were 
termed indifferently "the council," or "the assistants," and 
subsequently "the bench." This is the body to which w T e 
have before referred as offering the nucleus of the exclu- 
sive and self-electing system. It was composed of the 
jurors of the court leet : and it is easy to trace the progress 
of their power. Shortly after the charter of 1st Edward 
IV., the powers of the courts leet began to be curtailed. 
Several statutes in the reign of that monarch tended to 
remove jurisdiction in criminal matters from those courts, 
and place it with the justices of the peace. It was in this 



172 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

reign that the statute passed directing that indictments found 
in the court leet should be referred to the sessions ; which, 
in effect, brought much of the jurisdiction of the leet into 
disuse. But this very reduction of the criminal jurisdic- 
tion of the leet, raised into comparatively greater import- 
ance the municipal duties which the jurors were still called 
on to perform. Those matters of municipal regulation 
which solely occupied their attention in the courts, were 
then naturally regarded as of greater moment than they 
were considered previously, when but secondary subjects 
of authority; and from undertaking, by delegation, the 
exclusive practice of nominating the individuals from 
whom the mayor was to be selected, they gradually 
assumed other and more important exclusive functions. 
The authority which they possessed in the court, they 
carried with them into the council-chamber ; and gradually, 
that honourable eminence which was, at the most, of but a 
year's duration, became converted into a possession for life. 
Their power, tacitly recognized and willingly submitted 
to, as a matter of practical convenience, continued to in- 
crease, until we find it to have acquired that substantial 
form and extent, declared in the extract about to be intro- 
duced. An old Record Book in the archives of the town, 
which appears to have been commenced in the year 1566, 
begins with the following passages, which afford satisfactory 
indications of the constitution of the governing body at 
that time, and the direction taken by its authority : — 

" A Bocke of Constitucions and good orders per- 
tayninge to the towne of Poole begonne the thyrde 
daye of Januarii anno dne 1566 William Constantyne 
then beynge maior with consente of his bretherne and 
the counsell of the sayd towne to be observed and kepte 
to the glory of god and wealth of the same towne 
hensefourth to continewe god graunt yt so doe & c . 

" Ffirst yt is ordayned that every of vs whiche have 
borne the offyce of mayralte and as many as are and 
shalbe apoynted of the assystaunce and called to the 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 173 

counsel of the sayd towne shalbe solemly sworne and 
deposed to kepe secrett all suche matters as shalbe 
at any time moved and vttered by them in counsell 
cosernynge the benefytt of the same. 

"And that every of vs shall by all meanes and waves 
to the vttermoste of oure power endevoure to seeke the 
profete and benefyte of the same towne not hynderynge 
the same by hys or there owne gayne nether for any 
frendshype culler any man's wares or goods wherby 
the sayd towne shulde be defrauded of any manor of 
dewteyes or profytes there vnto beloungynge. 

"And w t here as heretofore as well by neglvgence 
sutferaunce as affection many foreneres tradinge hether 
hath byn permytted to sell there comodytyes and wares 
brought hether by them to other foreners not beynge 

free of this towne to the hynd & of all the 

marchants inhabiters thereof yt is now fully concluded 

and ag ^ marchant foryner from hensefourth 

selle any wares or goods brought hether %* 

other forener but only to the marchaunts inhabitinge 
this towne. 

" And that all suche wares as shalbe hensefourth 
bought of any foryner by any one marchaunt inhabitant 
or mo shalbe divided or partyd betwene the wholle 
marchants burgeors inhabitants or betwene as many of 
them as wylbe partakers thereof for the same pryse and 
condicion yt was bought and that the same byer shall 
geve notysse of hys trew bargayne to the maior for the 
tyme beynge and those whiche wylbe partakers thereof 
to geve the byer warnynge within the spasse of fower 
and twentye houers. 

" And yf any marchant foryner greved with these 
our doyngs wylbe contendynge therein and contrary to 
admonicion geven will not leave to sell or bye with a 
nother lyke foryner but wyll atempte matter a gaynste 
vs by the law the same shalbe defended at the costes 
and charges of all the marchants inhabitants and towe 
of the sayd marchants shalbe apoynted by the consent 
of the wholle counsayll of the towne to prosecute the 
same agaynste the playntyfes and money deliuered 
them therefore. 



The MS. is imperfect in these places. 



174 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

" And for that we may be some what furnyshed with 
money to resyste and defende all suche as shall goe a 
bout to overthrowe oure doynges we condyssend and 
agreye that a colleccion and gatherynge be taken vpon 
oure wares comynge and yssuynge from hensefourth 
by tow apoynted for the same gatheringe and that yt 
be payd w th out any accepcion refuse or delay after tlie 
rate there vpon latly concluded. 

" Ytt was ordayned condissend and agreed the v th of 
Februarii anno 1566 by the maior hys bretherne and 
the assystaunce that all and every parson who have or 
hereafter shall have the recevinge or gatherynge of any 
parte or porcion of money or other dewteys pertavn- 
mge to the towne shall within vj dayes beynge there 
vnto requested by the maior his bretherne and the 
assistance aforesayd make a iust and trew accompte 
vnto the parteyes aforesayd without retayninge any 
parte or p'cell that shalbe founde dewe by hys sayd 
accompte and allso shall not make vnto hymselfe any 
manor of allowaunce but that which shalbe thought 
good by the maior hys bretherne and assistaunce afore- 
sayd vpon payne to be extemed periured. 

" And forther yt is a greyed ordayned and condis- 
sended that all and every persone or persones who shall 
hereafter travell for the vse and behovfe of the towne 
in any cause wherein expences may grove or money 
shalbe employed that every suche persone and persons 
have comyssion from the maior for the time beynge hys 
bretherne and the assistaunce in what manor of order 
to p'cede for the affaiers aforesayd and the said persone 
or persones so trevelynge for the vsse aforesayd shall 
not dysbourse any some or somes of money pertayninge 
to the towne in any other order or forme then suche as 
hys comission shalle lede hym vnto vpon payne not to 
be allowed the sayd some of money that he shall so 
dysburse or othervvyse charge the towne contrary to 
hys savd comission and that every p'son so travelynge 
for the sayd towne shall within sixe dayes after the ende 
of hys sayd travell beynge there vnto required deliuer 
a faythfull accompte to the maior his brethrne and the 
assistaunce vpon payne to be extemed periured &c. 

" Yt was further ordayned condyssended and agreed 
the tenth dave of Februarv ao 1566 bv the consent 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY, 



175 



aforesayd that the maior or any other officer that now 
is or any hereafter that shalbe in the sayd towne of 
Poole shall not vpon hys owene advysse and determi- 
nacion charg-e the sayd towne w th any maner of worke 
or workes sewtes in the lawe or other thyngs wherein 
expenses of money shalbe imployed other then suche 
alowaunces as of auncient time hath byn accustomed 
nor doe any accte or actes for or in the townes cause 
wherein advysse is to be taken without the consent of 
hys bretherne and the assistaunce vpon payne not to be 
alowed any suche some or somes of money that he 
shall soe implove without the consent aforesayd or sixe 
of them at the ieaste. 

" The xiiu daye of June anno 1567 yt was agreed and 
condyssended bv the maior his bretherne and y e assist- 
aunce that the maior for the time beynge or his depute 
his bretherne and assistaunce shall weekly vpon the 
Thorsday betwene the ohoures of viij or ix of the clocke 
in the fournone mete and assemble them selves at the 
towne house there to debate of such thyng-s as shalbe 
mete and convenient and that none doe absent hymselfe 
thense without lysence of the maior vpon resonable 
excuse vpon payne to forfett for every time soe trans- 
gressynge the some of ij s - vj u - to be levied by the 
bavlev to the vsse of the towne. 

" All these articles and agrements as allso all others 
hereafter to be devysed by vs for the furtheraunce of 
the towne and the whole inhabitants thereof we whose 
names are subscribed Do faythfully promyse and 
bynde oure selves to observe and kepe and for the 
more trewth have subscribed with oure owne hands 
the day and yeare afore wrytten and taken a corporall 
othe to performe the same the tenor whereof inseweth. 

"Yee shall owe trewe obedience to the quene's 
maiestie her herres and successores vee shall renounce 
the vsurped power of the byshope of Rome accordinge 
to the tenor of an acte of parlement made in anno primo 
of quene Elizabeth yee shall kepe secrett the lawful! 
counsell of the towne and the wealth and profyte thereof 
mayntayne to your power yee shall obeye such consti- 
tucions and orders as are or shalbe decreyed for the 
profyte and benefyte of the same towne by the maior 
for the tvme bevn^e hys bretherne the assvstaunce or 



176 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

the mostc parte of them soe God vou helpe & by 
the." 

No further entry appears to have been then made, and 
no names are subscribed. 

It is manifest from every article in this document, that 
the mayor, his brethren, and assistants, constituted an inse- 
parable governing 1 body; and that the mayor had little 
authority vested in him, independently of the advice and 
consent of the brethren and council. Most of these articles 
are directed to those regulations in trading which were, 
at that time, prominent objects in municipal government ; 
and develope somewhat of that policy which our forefathers 
thought useful towards the promotion of their mercantile 
interests. 

The authority of the " assistants," thus established, was 
not, however, recognized by the charter of 10th Elizabeth ; 
though it appears that after that grant it was still exercised, 
with the same gradual increase in importance, until, as will 
be seen, from the foundation of this court leet jury, arose 
the superstructure of a select privileged body. It is 
nevertheless clear, that down to the grant of that charter, 
no legal alteration had taken place in the relations of the 
different classes in the borough,— that every inhabitant 
householder, paying scot and bearing lot, was, in the eye 
of the law, entitled to the privileges of his burgess-ship, 
though, for the more speedy and effectual transaction of 
the business of the town, the burgesses at large had con- 
ventionally delegated the powers of government to the 
mayor, his brethren, and the council of twelve. 

About this time, however, we find instances of the intro- 
duction of a practice, which afterwards became frequent in 
Poole as in other boroughs, viz., that of enfranchising 
persons not enjoying the scot and lot qualification necessary 
to enable them to demand their burgess-ship without such 
consent. The first intimation now extant of this practice of 
" making" burgesses, is in a document, being an agreement 



.MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 177 

for " obtayninge the corporation," entered into June 14, 
1568, between the mayor and two other burgesses on the 
one part, and the subscribed burgesses and inhabitants, 
about eighty in number, on the other part, by which the 
latter rendered themselves liable to the former in the sum 
of £500, to be by them expended in obtaining the charter 
of 10th Elizabeth. Amongst the names subscribed to this 
document are the following : — " Richard Mayer, facto 
burgens ;" " John Newman, burgas by choys ,•" and 
" Richard . . . . , made free." At the commencement 
of this practice, in all likelihood, those only were chosen 
as burgesses who had property in the town, but were not 
possessed of the necessary combined qualification of inha- 
bitancy with the payment of scot and lot : in the course of 
a few years, however, the privilege was, on the payment of 
some consideration, extended to foreigners, or persons not 
resident within the borough, and connected with it only 
by trade. What were the privileges and rights to which 
the burgesses of this class, the elected, were admitted ? — 
is a question that here naturally arises. Neither under 
the common or statute law, nor by virtue of any charter, 
were such persons entitled to the enjoyment of those terri- 
torial privileges, and other beneficial franchises, that were 
the right of the scot and lot burgesses. But the legally 
qualified burgesses had the power of remitting to other 
persons the liability to the import duties detailed in the 
inquisition of 1341,^ as well as exemption from the trading 
restrictions which, as a mercantile guild, the burgesses had 
a right to impose, and of which some entries are found in 
the extract from the old Record Book, quoted a few pages 
back. These exemptions are unquestionably the privileges 
to which the " made" burgesses were chosen, and they are 
those in which the merchants of the town, not possessing 
the requisite burgess qualification, and those residing in 



Vide p. 159. 

2 A 



178 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

neighbouring" ports, and frequently trading with Poole, 
would necessarily be desirous of participating. That this 
was the object to be attained is evident from the early ad- 
missions entered in the records : and they shew, moreover, 
considerable jealousy of admitting the principle of 
" foreign" burgess-ship : and it was sometimes the case, 
that those who were chosen burgesses were so admitted on 
the express stipulation that, at some contemplated period, 
they should become residents of the borough. Thus the 
earliest admission of a " foreigner " now extant, runs 
thus : — 

" 1583. March 16.— M d - this day William Pytte of Wey- 
mouth Melcom Regis in the countie of Dors* m'chaunt 
is made a free burgisse of this towne and countie of 
Poole, who is to pay for his freedom to the corporacon 
of the same towne and countie two hundred weight of 
good corne powder, and for his absense he is to pay to 
the vse of the said corporacon xx s - ffl annum till such 
tyme as he shall come to inhabite in this towne of Poole 
and then shall he be dischargyed of the said xx 9 - ffi 
yeare And he is to geve his attendaunce always on the 
Friday next going before S. Mathewes day yerely in 
Poole in the guyldhall there at thelleccon of the offic 3 
for the service of her ma ie And for such corne or 
grayne as shalbe laden by him this yere he is to pay the 
one moetie or half the duties thereof. And when God 
shall appointe of his mother's disceasse he the said Wil- 
liam Pytte promiseth that w th in shorte tyme then after he 
will repayer hether and inhabite in this towne of Poole." 

A memorandum follows, that Pytte paid his powder and 
20s. a year till 1590, when he came to dwell in the town. 

It is clear from the latter part of this entry, that exemp- 
tion from the duties and from the trading restrictions was 
the freedom to which Pytte was admitted. 

Thus we find that, about the period of the grant of queen 
Elizabeth's charter, there were established in the borough, 
the various offices to which appointments were made under 
the several charters; and three separate classes of burgesses, 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 179 

viz., the legally recognized burgesses, possessing 1 the 
requisite qualification of scot and lot and residency ; — the 
council of assistants, growing- out of the body just men- 
tioned, composing the court leet jury, and to whom was 
delegated by the common body of burgesses, the appoint- 
ment of all matters relating to municipal regulation ; — and, 
thirdly, the made or elected burgesses, who were, by con- 
sent of the council, enfranchised of trading restrictions and 
of the payment of town dues. From this state of things 
the transition to the mode of municipal government that 
prevailed at the time of the recent alteration is natural 
and easy. 

The charter of the 10th Elizabeth, dated June 23 (1568), 
contains an inspeximus and recital of the charter of 3rd 
Henry VIII., containing a confirmation of those of 1st 
Edward IV., 11th Henry VI., and 31st Henry VI., and 
confirms the privileges granted by all these, to the mayor, 
bailiffs, burgesses, and inhabitants, and their successors. 
It then recites, that the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and 
inhabitants, time out of mind, had held and enjoyed the 
said rights, &c., and divers other customs, liberties, &c, 
as well by prescription as by the aforesaid charters made 
to the burgesses and inhabitants, and their heirs and 
successors, but which they had not been accustomed to use 
and enjoy for many years then past, whereby the town 
had suffered great and heavy damages and injury, and 
was threatened with immediate ruin, and also the good 
rules of government of the same were then almost extinct ; 
whereupon the burgesses and inhabitants had humbly 
prayed the queen, for the restoration of the town, and 
for the better order and government thereof, to restore 
and create the said burgesses and inhabitants into another 
body corporate and politic. The queen, therefore, to that 
intent, " and above all, that if the inhabitants of the town 
aforesaid, and their successors, should enjoy by our 
grant greater honours, liberties, and privileges, that then 



180 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

they will think themselves more especially and strictly 
bound to do and perform unto us, our heirs, and succes- 
sors, what service they are able ;" — granted 

— that the town should be a free town, incorporated by 
the name of " the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and common- 
alty of the town of Poole;" who should have perpetual 
succession with the usual corporate powers of suing and 
being sued in that name, purchasing and holding lands, &c; 

— that the mayor and two bailiffs should be elected every 
year, by and out of the burgesses, on the Friday next 
before the feast of St. Matthew : and in case of death or 
removal from office for misconduct, &c, of the mayor or 
either bailiff", the vacancy to be supplied in like manner, 
within fifteen days ; 

— that the mayor should be the escheator, and no other 
escheator should intermeddle in the town ; 

— that the inhabitants, &c, should be exempted from the 
precepts or mandates of the stewards, &c, of the house- 
hold ; who should, in no wise, enter the town ; but that 
the mayor should be clerk of the market ; 

— that no merchant stranger should buy or sell of or to 
any other merchant stranger, any merchandizes in Poole, 
other than in gross, under the penalty of forfeiture of the 
goods ; 

— that there should be in the town a staple for recogni- 
zance of debts in the said staple, according to the form of 
the statute staple; 

— that a mayor and two constables of the staple should be 
elected on the Friday before St. Matthew's day, in every 
year, by and out of the burgesses ; and in case of vacancy 
by death or removal, such vacancy to be filled up ; 

— that the mayor, &c, might elect annually, on the day 
aforesaid, out of the inhabitants of the town and suburbs 
thereof, or out of others, brokers of merchandizes, carmen, 
watermen, porters, and packers, as the mayor, bailiffs, and 
burgesses of Southampton have been accustomed to elect ; 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 181 

— that the town, with its suburbs, and precincts, should be 
one entire county corporate in deed and name, distinct and 
altogether separate from the county of Dorset, and styled 
" the county of the town of Poole ;"# 

— that the burgesses should annually elect, out of their 
brother burgesses, one discreet, able, and fit person to be 
sheriff of the town ; to be certified by the mayor to the 
barons of the exchequer ; to hold the county courts within 
the town monthly, with the same powers as any county 
sheriff; and no other sheriff to intromit within the liberties ; 

— that the mayor, &c, should hold a court in the guildhall, 
before the mayor and the senior bailiff, on Thursday in 
every week, with cognizance of all pleas of debt, covenant, 
detinue, trespasses, actions upon the case, accounts, and 
all other personal pleas ; with power of arrest and attach- 
ment of the bodies and goods, &c, within the liberties; 
and hold all pleas of lands and tenements, on the said 
Thursday, from fifteen days to fifteen days, and there hear 
and determine all the pleas aforesaid, and the pleas of the 
pie-poudre court, with judgment and execution thereon, 
as in the town of Southampton, with power to attach 



* As the corporate counties constitute a peculiar feature in the division of the 
kingdom, it may not be irrelevant here to enter into a brief sketch of them. The 
corporate counties are nineteen in number, and, with one exception, (London) have 
all belonged to other counties, from which they have been separated by royal charter. 
London, however, appears to have been a county by prescription at the time of the 
Norman conquest. The others have been separated from the parent counties, and 
been invested with independent jurisdiction, by charters of the following monarchs ; 
viz., Bristol, by a charter of 47 Edw. III., which is the earliest instance. The castle 
of Bristol was added to the county by a charter of 5 Charles I. York by Rich. II. : 
the ainsty of York being subsequently added to the county of the city of York by 
Hen. VI. Lincoln, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Norwich, by Hen. IV. Coventry, 
Kingston-upon-Hull, Nottingham, and Southampton, by Hen. VI. Canterbury and 
Haveifordwest, by Edw. IV. Haverfordwest was afterwards made a county by Act 
of Parliament of 34 & 35 Hen. VIII. ; and its limits were further enlarged by a 
charter of 7 Jas. I. Gloucester, by Rich. III. Chester, by Hen. VII. Exeter, by 
Hen. VIII. Litchfield, by Mary. Poole, by Elizabeth. Carmarthen and Worcester, 
by Jas. I. But this severance of the corporate from the parent counties is not com- 
plete ; for it has been held as a maxim of our constitutional law, that although the 
sovereign may bestow privileges, he has not the power of withdrawing them from the 
subject ; and the franchise in the election of representatives in parliament for the 
parent counties is therefore still enjoyed by those possessing the required qualification 
in the corporate counties severed therefrom. 



182 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

defendants in the same suits, &c., in manner and form as 
the sheriffs of London ; 

— that the mayor should appoint the assize of bread, wine, 
and beer, and all other sorts of victuals, and weights and 
measures, &c. ; and that no steward or marshall of the 
household should enter the town or its liberties ; 

— that the mayor, recorder, and four burgesses, should 
be keepers of the peace, the latter to be chosen annually 
by and out of the burgesses ; that nine, eight, seven, six, 
five, four, three, or two of them, of whom the mayor or 
recorder to be one, should thenceforth be justices, with 
the same power as the justices of any other county at 
large ; and that no keepers of the peace and justices of 
the county of Dorset should in any wise enter the town to 
perform any duties appertaining to their office ; 

— that the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty, 
should have for ever, in support of the charges incumbent 
upon the town, the liberty of the view of frank-pledge, 
and things which belong to the said view of frank-pledge, 
within the town, liberty, and precinct ; and all fines, issues, 
redemptions, and amercements ; and all goods and chattels 
of persons outlawed and waived; 

— that the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty, and 
all inhabitants and residents dwelling and residing in the 
town, should be free from being, against their will, put or 
impannelled in any assize, jury, inquisition, attainder, or 
recognizance whatsoever, out of the town, liberty, and 
precinct of Poole ; 

— that the inhabitants, burgesses, and commonalty of the 
town should have their guild, and all their liberties, fran- 
chises, privileges, jurisdictions, and customs, by land and 
by sea, as fully and peaceably, and as justly and freely, 
and as honourably, as the mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses of 
Southampton hold theirs ; 

— that the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty, 
and their successors, and all the other inhabitants and bur- 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 183 

gesses, should be free and discharged from toll, passage, 
pontage, murage, chimiage, pannage, lastage, stallage, 
vicinage, carriage, piccage, ferriage, stewriage, scutage, 
hidiage, and wharfage, as well by land as by sea, as well 
in fairs as in markets, and from all secular customs 
throughout the land ; 

— that the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty, 
should have the return of all writs within the town and its 
liberties ; and that no sheriff or other bailiff of the crown 
should intermeddle ; 

— that the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty, 
should elect, out of themselves, the coroners of the town ; 

— that no one of the mayor, bailiff's, burgesses, and com- 
monalty, and their successors, inhabiting or residing 
within the town, should be impleaded out of the said 
town ; and that no writ should pass within the liberty of 
the town, except a writ of right of novel disseisin, and writ 
of dower unde nihil habet, as is accustomed within the 
town of Southampton ; 

— that they may have and hold, throughout the realm, all 
their liberties and free customs hitherto obtained and used, 
better and more free, and as quietly and fully as the bur- 
gesses of Southampton, or any others within the kingdom, 
hold within their liberties ; 

— that the mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses, and their suc- 
cessors, for ever, should enjoy all the liberties conceded in 
this charter, freely and without let ; and that no one should 
disturb or obstruct them in such enjoyment, under a for- 
feiture of ten pounds ; 

— and that the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty, 
and their successors, should be for ever free from murage 
and pannage, and keyage for their goods and merchan- 
dizes, throughout the kingdom. 

Under the main provisions of this charter, the municipal 
affairs of the town continued to be administered down to 
the general regulation of corporations, by the act of 5th 



184 MUNICIPAL HISTORV. 

and 6th Wm, IV., c. 76. It will have been seen, that it 
conferred upon the inhabitants privileges of a very im- 
portant character. Bv the creation of the borough into a 
county corporate, the inhabitants became exempt from 
many onerous and expensive duties, to which the inhabi- 
tants of counties at large are liable.^ The dependence of 
the borough on the power of the manorial lord was also 
terminated, so far as regarded all matters of municipal 
administration. Possessing its own court with the view 
of frank-pledge, its burgesses were no longer required to 
appear, be sworn, and be enrolled at the lord's court : and 
they obtained, moreover, the power of choosing their 
mayor, free from any manorial interference. 

The trading regulations, directed against the dealings of 
merchant-strangers, which had been previously appointed, 
were recognised and confirmed by this charter. 

The court of record, conceded by this grant, continues 
to the present day, in the full enjoyment of its extensive 
powers and jurisdiction. 



* The borough continued, however, still subject to the authority of the lords 
lieutenant of Dorsetshire ; and on this subject the following letter was written in the 
ensuing year by the Privy Council. 
" To oure loving freends the mayor and his bretherne of the towne of Poole." 
" After our hartie comendacons, where thequenes matie hath bye her hignes Ires 
patent under her greate seale appointed our very good lord the L. Montioye, and or 
very loving frend Sr Willm Pawlet Knight to be her mats lieutenants of the countie 
of Dorsset as well within liberties as without, forasmuch as we understand that you 
of that towne have of late obtained by Ires patent from her hignes to be a countie 
within yor selfes ; we have thought mete to signifie unto you that her mats plesure 
and comandmt is that her said lieutenants shall have the charge ordre and rule as well 
of the said towne as of all other places w* h in the whole circuite of y e countie, what 
libertie or priviledge so ever be pretended to the contrary ; and therfore chargeth and 
comandeth you that you faile not to followe such ordre and direction as shall from 
tyme to tyme be prescribed unto you by them or either of them for her mats service 
by virtue of their said lieutenancie during the continuance of the same and hereof 
not to faile as ye tender her mats service, and yor dew ties towards her highnes and 
your countrey — So fare you well. From Windsore the vjth of December 1569." 

This letter is signed by "W. Northumberland: F. Bedford: R. Leycester : W. 
Howard: F. Knollys: W. Cecil: Wa. Mildmay." 

The lord lieutenant of the county of Dorset has always exercised jurisdiction over 
the town of Poole, being appointed to the lieutenancy of that town as well as to that 
of the county ; and the precepts of his deputy lieutenants with regard to the militia 
are directed to and executed by the constables of Poole, and the inhabitants are liable 
to serve in the militia. 

The lord lieutenant of the parent county is also invariably appointed for, and has 
jurisdiction over, the corporate county, in every instance, with the exceptions of 
Loudon and Haverfordwest. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. ff85 

The charter of the 10th of Elizabeth was not obtained 
by the town without the manifestation of some reluctance 
on the part of lord Mountjoy, at that time the lord of the 
manor ; as we learn from a very curious letter, written by 
Dr. Walter Haddon, a few weeks previous to the date of 
the charter, to sir William Cecil, her majesty's secretary. 
This letter is preserved amongst the Cecil papers in the 
Lansdowne MSS. ; and the following" is a copy of that part 
of it which relates to Poole: — 

" I haue with much argument obteynid of y ff queen's 
highnes to signe y e book for y e inhabitants of Poole & not- 
withstanding y* I tolde hir as truth was y* theye haue bene 
longe suters, y* theye desired no nue grant but confirmation 
of y e olde, y* her counselors were agreable & y 1 y r attor- 
neys hadde orderli procedid in y e same yet y e name of 
incorporation is so discredited with her y* she tolde me 
pleynli she signed the book for no liking of y e matter, but 
onli because theye had bene longe suters & too saue mi 
reputation as she termid it in y fc I had giuen them hope. 
Therfore I craue of yow seeing the matter is so furre com 
& as I tak it bi veri good resonable meanes y l it meye 
please yow too passe it favorabli exept yow shal finde some 
substantial cause too y e contrari as I trust yow shal not. I 
haue steide this matter vpon mi lord Montioie's importune 
requestes this ten or twelue weeks & in the ende he seith 
nothing y* is material and y e tovvne will be bound to him as 
himselfe can deuise, y l ther grante shal no weye preiudice 
his right : he stirrithe in this matter bi indirect meanes & 
hathe done secus quam dignum est ejus relligione et per- 
sona, sed haec tibi in aurem. I preye yow giue yowr 
lawful assistance & as I promised y e quene's highnes so I 
wil promisse yow it shal be y e laste incorporation y l euer I 
wil deale withal exept I be specialli commandid. ,, 

This letter is addressed " to mi honorable frende sir 
William Cecille, secretarie to y e queene's highnesse." It 
is dated the 6th April, but has no mention of any year : 
though it clearly has reference to the charter under con- 
sideration. If Elizabeth really had personally such aversion 
to the furtherance of corporations as is stated by the learned 

2B 



180 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

doctor, she wisely yielded up her own prejudice to the 
politic views of her councillors, as, in her reign, more 
charters of incorporation were granted than during" the 
reign of any other English sovereign. 

The consent of lord Mountjoy was at length obtained ; 
but not without an undertaking on the part of the town that 
the new grant should not affect his right ; and, June 20, 
1568, a bond was entered into, from William Newman, 
Wm. Constantyne, and William Grene, merchants of 
Poole, to James Blount, lord Mountjoy, in the sum of 
£50, with a condition that if, by the charter then granted, 
there be any breach of the liberties, privileges, customs, 
and usages, of lord Mountjoy, as lord of the manor 
of Canford and Poole, they, on behalf of the mayor, 
bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty, will make such com- 
pensation as the judges of assize shall certify ; also that his 
lordship and his heirs shall enjoy all privileges in buying 
and selling" within the town. 

The territorial rights of the lord of the manor were not 
affected by the operation of the charter ; and, accordingly, 
his court leet continued to be holden within the town once 
in each year. The steward's precepts were addressed " to 
the bailiffs of Poole, and to such other persons as the 
execution thereof shall appertain," directing them " to 
summon and warn the leet or law-day, and the lord's court 
to be holden at Poole, at the accustomed place, and on 
the accustomed day, viz., the 2nd of January," and to 
summon all the inhabitants within the precincts of the same 
leet, and all tenants as well free as others and all other 
persons owing any suit or service unto the said court, 
either resident or not resident, &c. 

Important as were the privileges conceded to the 
borough by the charter of Elizabeth, and greatly as it 
contributed to promote the prosperity of the town, by the 
stimulus it gave to commerce, and the facilities it afforded 
for obtaining justice, it effected comparatively trifling 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 187 

alteration in the machinery of municipal government ; and 
still were the affairs of the borough administered by the 
mayor, his brethren, and the delegated but not legally 
recognized council, aided by the officers appointed in 
pursuance of the provisions of the charter. The election 
of the mayor, indeed, was somewhat varied. In lieu of 
the former practice of the whole body of burgesses, or the 
council on their behalf, nominating six individuals, of 
whom the manorial lord chose one to perform the duties of 
that office, it was provided that the selection should rest 
solely with the burgesses. But it has been questioned 
whether this right was ever fully enjoyed by the burgesses 
at large. For many years previous to the date of the 
charter of Elizabeth, the custom had prevailed, that the 
council proffered three names only to the lord's steward 
instead of six, as provided in the grant of Longespee : and 
it is said that the nomination system, which prevailed down 
to 1809, was founded on this custom, and came into opera- 
tion immediately upon the grant of Elizabeth's charter. 
Under this system, the mayor and his brethren, or in more 
modern phraseology, the aldermen, assembled on some day 
previous to the charter day, when they put three persons in 
nomination, of whom the burgesses, on the latter day, were 
to choose one as mayor. At what precise time this practice 
originated, is uncertain, but by means of the affidavits filed 
in Rex v. Skutt, 1728, Rex v. Masters, 1748, and Rex v. 
Durell, 1753, we are enabled to carry back parole testi- 
mony of its existence to about the middle of the seventeenth 
century, sixty or seventy years after the reign of Elizabeth. 
It prevailed until 1809, when Mr. John Strong was chosen 
under this system, on which an information, in the shape of 
a quo warranto, was filed against him. The case came on 
for hearing at the Dorset summer assize, 1810, before 
Mr. justice Bayly and a special jury, when a verdict for 
the plaintiff was returned, thus abolishing the custom ; and 
the subsequent elections took place in accordance with the 
terms of the charter. 



188 MUNICIPAL HISTORV. 

The court rolls of the manor shew that after the death of 
lord Mountjoy, and when the manor had devolved on the 
earl of Huntingdon, disputes arose between the lord and 
what he called " the newly erected court," i.e. the court 
holden by virtue of the charter; and he attempted to 
recover his ultimate selection of the mayor. On the 2nd 
of January, 21st Eliz., a court was holden, at which the 
steward required that proper men might be returned for 
the execution of the offices, viz : such as were not sworn at 
the newly erected court ; but it is stated that the mayor and 
three other persons, little regarding the steward's authority, 
and contriving to defraud and deprive the said lords of 
their ancient customs, profits, and hereditaments, refused to 
return any other persons or officers than those who were 
elected and sworn at the newly erected court held at the 
feast of St. Michael, by virtue of the charter. From this 
period, the power of the lord's court for Poole appears to 
have fallen into decay. There are various minutes of 
courts between 1618 and 1636, but nothing appears to have 
been attempted with regard to the borough, until t. Car. II., 
after the judgment of ouster in the quo warranto against 
the corporation, of which more hereafter. 

The council, or assistants, were not recognised by this 
charter, but " the twelve men" continued to exercise 
municipal authority as before. In 1571, three years after 
the grant of the charter, we find the following entry in the 
corporation books : — 

"The names of those that are recorded for the benche 
for the good and quyett governement as allso for y e dy- 
recting of all good constytucyons ordynances and decres 
for y e better governement and presevacyon of this towene 
and counte of Poole recordyd the xv th daye of September 
a« 1571. 

Wyllm Grene mayor 

Mr. John Man 

Mr. Wyllm Constantyne 

Mr. Wyllm Neweman 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 189 

Mr. John Hancocke 
Mr. Wyllm Byihylcome 
Mr. Crystoffer Roze 

John Rogers A-U thes as abovesayo 1 are 

Ppfpr OtvHptip appoynted for the benche beirg 

tt? 11 is I the nomber of xij by whom chef- 

W yllm Merett ely all matters ar to be deter- 

Mvcrell Daye mened and appoynted for the 

P^tor PnvA good government of thy stovne 

reier i^oxe and comonwelth of ye same# 

Similar entries occur in other years. It does not appear 
by whom the council were chosen, but it is more than 
probable that the burgesses were the electors. Nor does it 
seem that these elections took place successively for many 
years ; in several years no election of the council is 
recorded, and in a short time the practice appears to have 
ceased entirely, so far as regarded the election, and the 
council to have continued in the exercise of their power 
without appointment. It is fair to presume that the mayor 
and justices were regarded as being ex-officio members of 
the council; and this is rendered more clear by a subsequent 
entry, viz., in 1578, March 15, when at an assembly of 
*« the mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses,' • it was agreed that 
every Wednesday in the year, " the mayor ■, with the bench 
and their assistants, to the number of twelve," should meet 
at the townhall, and there to sit and hear and determine for 
the body of the whole town, and what they or the most part 
of them should do, should bind the rest. 

The charter worked no change in the legal constitution 
of the great body of the burgesses, who still continued to be 
the free inhabitant householders paying scot and lot, sworn 
and enrolled at the court leet : and it remained for time 
and circumstances to complete those conventionary in- 
novations, of which we have already traced the rise. 
That the term " burgesses," in the charter, implied the 
resident inhabitants, possessing the ancient legal qualifica- 
tion of burgess-ship, is evident from many passages in the 
charter itself, which is granted to the burgesses and inhabi- 
tants, and from the agreement for obtaining the charter, to 



190 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

which we have referred, and which was entered into by 
about eighty of the " burgesses and inhabitants ;" — eighty 
being too large a number to admit of any supposition of a 
select and exclusive body, and those of the burgesses who 
had been admitted without possessing the scot and lot 
qualification, being distinctly specified. 

The practice of " making" burgesses, however, began 
now to be more frequent ; and the entries confirm the 
opinion already expressed on this subject, for although, in 
the course of a few years after the date of the grant, we find 
several entries of the admission of strangers to free burgess- 
ship, such admissions are accompanied by expressions 
evidencing the jealousy entertained of sanctioning the 
principle of burgess-ship being consistent with non-resi- 
dence, and such also as lead to the inference that the 
strangers were admitted to little beyond the privileges of 
the trading guild. In the instance already quoted, — the 
admission of William Pytte, of Weymouth, — he promised to 
reside at some future period, and paid a fine for his absence; 
and it was stipulated that for such corn or grain as should 
be laden by him that year, he was to pay half the duties. 
This passage manifests that freedom from the payment of 
the town dues, was the privilege sought to be obtained 
by Pytte. 

The earliest admissions are principally of merchants, of 
whom many paid a commutation for their privileges ; 
and the entries are frequently accompanied by the condition 
that the admitted burgess should not be invested with the 
honours of office, which those who purchased their freedom 
for pecuniary purposes would naturally be desirous of 
avoiding. As examples, the first ten admissions are now 
cited. 

1. — The first admission of a burgess in the extant books 
of the corporation, is that of William Pytte, of Weymouth, 
March 16, 1583, already recorded. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 191 

2. — The next is the admission, of which the following 1 is 
a copy : — 

" M d - the xxvij day of September, anno dni. 1585, Mr. 
Edward Man, of the towne and countie of Poole, 
merchaunte hath his freedome of burgiss-shipp freely 
geven unto him w th in the said towne, and y* is fully 
condescended and agreed in the guyldhall before Mr. 
Christopher Farewell, maior, and others, his bretheren, 
whose names are subscribed that the said Edward Man 
shall not be elected or choycen in any office of the offices 
insident vnto the towne of Poole for the service of the 
prince, duringe the space of syxe yeres from the day of the 
election of the maior of Poole last past before the date 
hereof & farther it is fully agreed in the presence aforsayde 
that the said Edward Man shall not at any tyme after the 
expiration of the said syx yeres be elected into any of the 
offices of water balyve or constable of the said towne of 
Poole." 

3. — Dec. 15, 1585, Thomas Maudley, of Poole, had his 
" freedom of burgiss-ship" given him ; and was not to be 
elected water bailiff, constable, or sheriff. 

4. — May 11, 1587, Thomas Siggens, of Poole, was 
accepted and sworne a free burgess, on a promise to give 
a calliver to the use of the corporation. 

5. — Aug. 14, 1588, Robert Hamond, yeoman of Poole, 
and William Pynnell, of Poole, were accepted and sworn 
free burgesses. 

6. — Sep. 5, 1589, Henry, earl of Pembroke, came to 
Poole, and accepted to be a free burgess of the same, 
affirming upon his honour to be a faithful burgess, &c.^ 

7. — Aug. 11, 1590, Thomas Robartts, of Poole, was 
accepted and sworn a free burgess, on giving* a calliver. 



* This is the first entry in the books of burgess-ship being conferred as a matter 
of mere honorary distinction. The above nobleman was Henry, the second earl of 
Pembroke ; who was one of the peers on the trial of the duke of Norfolk, as like- 
wise on that of Mary, queen of Scots. He was husband to the countess of Pembroke, 
rendered illustrious by Pope's beautiful epitaph to her memory. The following 
memorandum, relative to his visit to Poole, appears in an old book : — " The towne p<* 
61i. 5s. 5d. for a entertaynment for the eric of Pembroke and others that came to visit 
the towne." 



192 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

8. — Sep. 19, 1590, Thomas Francis was made a free 
burgess " by concente of the whole howse." He gave 
£2 13s. 4d. 

9.— On the same day, John Hayward, merchant, was 
made a free burgess, and was to give to the corporation 
£2 yearly for four years, and it was agreed not to impose 
any office on him during those four years, unless with his 
own consent. 

10. — Dec. 9, 1590, John Hatrell, of Poole, merchant, 
was accepted and sworn a free burgess, " without pay- 
inge of anythinge, at the request of William Dicker, sen." 

It appears to have been a general rule established by 
usage, and afterwards by bye-laws, that each elected bur- 
gess, on his admission, should pay a fine to the corporation 
funds. This, however, was not universally the practice, as 
many burgesses, both honorary and others, have been, at 
divers times, admitted without such payment. This fine, or 
admission fee, has differed at various periods, according to 
the pleasure of the corporation, many persons in the most 
early times appearing to have paid 10s. or 20s. for such 
fines, and other different sums, not much exceeding the 
latter amount, till about the year 1688, at which time, and 
for some years afterwards, this fine appears to have been 
in general £5 for each person admitted ; and it was after- 
wards augmented to £20, at which amount it continued till 
a number of burgesses were made in 1775, when the fine 
was £25, which was the amount paid by each burgess 
admitted at the last "batch" in 1830. Amongst other 
considerations given in early times for the freedom of the 
borough, we find a great number of entries made of 
leather buckets (probably for use in case of fire) having 
been given by burgesses on their admission. The con- 
sideration seems to have also varied much as regards the 
value; of which we may cite as an instance, the admission 
of Richard Phellypes, gent., of Corfe Mullen, who " being 
now resident and dwelling within the town and county of 



.MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 193 

Poole," was, Nov. 15, 1609, admitted and sworn a free 
burgess of the town, on the somewhat costly consideration 
that he should, at his own cost and charge, build a good, 
strong, and sufficient quay of the whole gap, called 
" Measurer's gap," of good stone work, and with a pair of 
stone stairs. 

From the time of Elizabeth, we find that in the borough 
of Poole, as elsewhere throughout the kingdom, the system 
prevailed of admitting to a factitious burgess-ship those 
individuals who were selected to represent the borough in 
parliament. For many years before this reign, the practice 
of sending non-residents as representatives had gradually 
grown up, until the greater part of the borough repre- 
sentatives having become strangers, it was by some deemed 
expedient to repeal the ancient statute of Henry V., under 
which the king's writ required every city and borough to 
elect none but members of their own community ; and, in 
order to give a sanction to the innovation which time had 
wrought, a bill was presented to parliament in 1571, in 
order to render valid elections of non-resident burgesses. 
This bill appears to have been dropped ; and, in order to 
meet the case by some other expedient, the fiction of a 
" made" burgess-ship was resorted to ; and thus arose a 
species of honorary freedom, which it became a matter of 
distinction to bestow upon those whom the inhabitants 
delighted to honour. 

From about this time the gradual and invariable course 
of the municipal transactions in the town, tended towards 
the establishment of the power of a governing body select, 
exclusive, and self-elected. The courts-leet becoming dis- 
used, the burgesses of the ancient qualification no longer 
possessed their distinctive mode of enrolment ; and gradu- 
ally suffered their rights to pass into abeyance, sanctioning, 
by their silence and conventionary assent, the usurped and 
unchartered sway of the council. And they were, pro- 
bably, more ready to acquiesce in this usurpation, inas- 

2 c 



194 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

much as, from all that now appears, it is pretty evident 
that down to this time the council had acted, in municipal 
matters and in more general politics, on principles with 
which the sentiments of the great body of the burgesses 
assimilated : whilst the mayor, aldermen, and council, 
comprising, in all likelihood, the whole of the influential 
merchants and leading inhabitants of the town, the bulk of 
the burgesses regarded their proceedings with little jea- 
lousy. It must also be remembered that, down to the 
reign of Elizabeth, parliamentary representation was 
regarded rather as a burthensome duty than as a, valuable 
privilege ; and the exercise of the parliamentary franchise 
being one of the duties of burgess-ship, there was, natu- 
rally, at that time little reluctance to relinquish this duty to 
those who were willing to pay the wages of the repre- 
sentatives. 

This growth of a select governing body out of the mass 
of the ancient burgesses, was about this time gradually 
taking place throughout the municipal system of the king- 
dom, encouraged not more by the disuse of courts-leet 
than by the measures of the court, especially under the 
dynasty of the Stuarts. 

After this usurpation became settled in the borough of 
Poole, we find the governing body to have been composed 
of the mayor, the aldermen, the council of assistants, and 
the made burgesses, being resident within the borough ; 
for, as we shall presently shew, the non-resident burgesses 
never enjoyed any settled participation in municipal 
government, their privilege being confined to an exercise 
of the parliamentary franchise. 

This alteration in the constitution of the governing body, 
it will have been seen y was an innovation of slow progress ;: 
nor was it until the middle of the seventeenth century that 
it became firmly established and recognised. And this 
establishment and recognition was not even then effected 
without some contrivances to give colour to the right of 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 195 

the select body ; in evidence whereof, several singular 
erasures and alterations made in the corporation books, — 
some apparently during the commonwealth, — may be 
instanced. 

In 1654, an order respecting the internal regulations of 
the town was originally entered as made by the " bailiffs, 
burgesses, and commonalty ;" but the word " burgesses" 
is struck through with a pen, and the word " commonalty" 
imperfectly erased ; the word " burgesses" being written 
over it. 

Another passage, of the same date, appears to have been 
originally entered, as made with the consent and advice of 
the " bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty ;" but the words 
" and commonalty" are partially blotted out ; and 
above, between the words " bailiffs, burgesses," the word 
*' and" is interlined in different ink and handwriting, — 
making the entry to read as made by the bailiffs and 
burgesses. 

Another alteration of an entry appears in 1661, but the 
design is not so manifest as in the instances quoted. 

In another entry in 1668, it is expressed that the "mayor, 
aldermen, burgesses, and commonalty," obliged them- 
selves to pay a salary to Mr. Hardy, their then minister ; 
but the words "and commonalty" are partially erased. 

From these interpolations, it. will be seen that it was 
sought to prevent an interference of the scot and lot house- 
holders, by regarding them as designated by the term 
" commonalty ;" and giving countenance to the hypothesis, 
that such commonalty had not been permitted to inter- 
meddle in municipal administration. 

The scot and lot householders also formed the same 
misapprehension, and in their contests with the select body 
their claim of privilege was chiefly grounded on thus 
giving to the term " commonalty" a meaning which cannot 
truly be applied to it. They alone were " the burgesses" 
of the charters ; their right was not founded on the 



196 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

cumulative technicalities of legal documents, but ascended 
to the ancient burgess qualification, derived from the 
Saxon institutions of the land, ratified and confirmed, 
indeed, by many a charter, but never injuriously affected 
by the authority of parliamentary enactment, until the 
extensive alteration recently effected in all the municipalities 
of the kingdom. 

We proceed to enquire into the nature and extent of the 
privileges enjoyed by the non-resident burgesses. It has 
already been shewn, that non-residents were admitted to 
burgess-ship in the first instance with the view of freedom 
from the trading restrictions imposed by the governing 
body : — that the parliamentary representatives were after- 
wards admitted on the ground that burgess-ship implied 
residency, thus giving rise to a fiction afterwards danger- 
ously applied: — that burgess-ship was afterwards conferred 
on strangers, as a mark of honorary distinction. 

It is clear that none of these classes was ever recognised 
in the borough as entitled to participate in its government ; 
as is shewn in the following and other entries. 

1631, Sept. 17. — An order was made that no burgesses 
should be made but of the inhabitants of the town, and of 
those that should be admitted by the general consent and 
approbation of the major part of the burgesses that should 
be assembled at the guildhall for making of burgesses. 
But the restraint was not to extend to noblemen's sons, 
knights, the recorder, and gentlemen elected to serve in 
parliament. 

1645, Nov. 3. — It was ordered, that no free burgess 
should any longer enjoy the privilege or benefit of his 
burgess-ship than during the time he should continue a 
personal inhabitant within the town. 

1695, Aug. 7. — It was ordered, that no burgess of the 
corporation should have a voice in electing the mayor, 
justices of the peace, senior bailiff, sheriff, water bailiff, or 
other annual officer, but such as were burgesses, inhabi- 
tants of the same. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 197 

But, though the non-resident burgesses have always 
been excluded from participating in the election of muni- 
cipal officers, or of new burgesses, or in any other muni- 
cipal function, they were accustomed to enjoy the privilege 
of voting in the election of parliamentary representatives 
for the borough ; — a right which was affirmed by a 
decision of the house of commons, in 1661. 

On the restoration of the second Charles, stringent mea- 
sures were taken for the suppression of any spirit of 
disaffection yet lurking in the kingdom ; and amongst 
these was the celebrated act for the well governing and 
regulation of corporations, which enacted that commissions 
should issue for England, Wales, and Berwick-upon- 
Tweed, and that the commissioners should visit the different 
corporations, to carry the provisions of the act into effect ; 
all magistrates and persons bearing offices of trust in the 
cities, boroughs, corporations, and cinque ports, were 
enjoined to swear that they believed it unlawful, on any 
pretence whatever, to take arms against the king, and that 
they abhorred the traitorous position of bearing arms by 
his authority against his person, or against those that were 
commissioned by him : they were also to sign a declaration, 
renouncing all obligation arising out of the oath termed 
the solemn league and covenant : and all those who refused 
to take the oaths or subscribe the declaration, were to be 
removed by the commissioners, who had power given to 
them for that purpose ; as well as for the restoration of 
those who had been illegally removed, and placing other 
members or inhabitants there in the vacancies which should 
be made. The act also provided, that those who should, 
in future, be elected to office, in addition to the oaths and 
declaration prescribed, should have received the sacrament 
of the Lord's supper, within one year before their election, 
according to the rites of the English church. 

As might have been supposed, from the part taken by 
the borough in the wars of the rebellion, the presbyterian 



198 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 



party — against which this act struck — was found strong in 
Poole, and many removals took place. 

The commissioners appointed for visiting Poole were 
John Morton, esq. ; sir Ralph Bankes, knight ; Gerrard 
Napier, esq. ; sir John Strode, knight ; Giles Strangeways, 
esq. ; John Churchill, esq. ; Matthew Davys, esq. ; colonel 
Robert Lawrence ; Robert Culliford, esq. ; John Turber- 
ville, esq. ; Henry Whitaker, esq. ; captain John Ryves. 
Their visitation was made Oct. 17, 1662, and the following 
was the result of their proceedings : — 

Removed Replaced by 

John Colbourne, mayor Stephen Street 

Alexander Dennett, .water-bailiff, . . Richard Albert 
William Minty . . ^ r Allen Skutt 

Dennis Smith. . . ./ \ John Frampton 

William Pike f , 

Edward Patten . >• -burgesses. . 

John Burd .... 



John Gigger . . , 

William Constantine, 

George Skutt. . 
John Spence . . 



Roger Baker 
Peter Hall, jun. 
Thomas Osborne 
John Fooke. 



recorder 



> 



burgesses 



John Pine 
Bartholomew Hall 
Robert Dove .... 

John Dove 

John Polden .... 

Elias Bond 

John Trottle 

James Dewey. . . . 
Edward Butler . . 
Richard Smith . . 
Onesiphorus Bond 

But, notwithstanding this purging of the corporation, a 
desire not to sanction any interference on the part of the 
crown or of parliament, continued to prevail in the corpo- 
ration ; and though some of the more rigid presbyterians 
refused the conditions imposed by the act, yet many, pro- 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 199 

bahly, found pretexts for qualifying- themselves : for we 
find that, although the commissioners had appointed Street 
to the office of mayor, in the room of the displaced Col- 
bourne, yet it appears that he never acted in that capacity, 
and that Peter Hiley was chosen to fill the office. 

Three years after this, Sept. 15, 1665, the king honoured 
Poole with the visit already recorded (p. 132); and, as will 
have been seen, he then nominated William Skutt to the 
mayoralty : — a nomination which was, however, rejected 
by the burgesses, in accordance with their reluctance to 
admit any semblance of the principle that the prerogative 
of the crown extended thus far. It is somewhat singular that 
the person selected on the rejection of the king's nominee, 
was no other than the Stephen Street, who had been set aside 
three years previously, for a like cause. This fact estab- 
lishes that such rejection could have arisen from no per- 
sonal objection to Street, but merely from an unwillingness 
to sanction the extreme opinions on the question of prero- 
gative, held by the court party after the restoration, when, 
as is always the case in national convulsions, the nation 
proceeded from one political extreme to its opposite. 

A charter was granted to this borough, dated Nov. 24, 
1667, (19 Car.U.) which — reciting that Poole was "a free 
and populous town and county of itself, and from ancient 
time incorporated by the name of the mayor, bailiffs, bur- 
gesses, and commonalty of the town of Poole ;" and that 
the burgesses and inhabitants had enjoyed divers liberties, 
privileges, &c, beyond the memory of man: — reciting 
also, that by the charter of Elizabeth and other charters, 
these liberties, &c, were furnished and confirmed : — and 
further reciting, that the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and 
commonalty had petitioned for a ratification and confirma- 
tion of the ancient privileges and liberties, and for the 
grant of other liberties and powers: — grants 
— that all liberties, privileges, &c, theretofore lawfully 
used or enjoyed by the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and 



200 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

commonalty, by reason of any charters or letters patent, 
should be ratified and confirmed in as ample a manner as 
in times past they were used or enjoyed ; 

— that there should be four constables, viz., two new 
constables to be added yearly to the two constables within 
the town, yearly appointed in times past ; such additional 
constables to be elected as in times past, and within six 
months after the annual election of the two former con- 
stables ; the two senior constables to be styled head 
constables; 

— that there should be one discreet man, learned in the 
law, to be a recorder ; and that Anthony Ettricke, esq. 
should be the recorder of the town thenceforth during his 
life ; any vacancy in the office to be supplied by the mayor, 
bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty ; that the recorder 
should have power to appoint a deputy ; 

— that the mayor and recorder, with four burgesses, to be 
annually elected according to the charter of Elizabeth, 
should be keepers of the peace, with the customary pow- 
ers, and that they, six, five, four, three, or two of them 
should be justices of the peace ; 

— that the sheriff and water bailff should be " eligible and 
elected out of the common burgesses and other honest and 
discreet inhabitants of the town and county aforesaid, at 
such time and times, and by such persons and members of 
the corporation aforesaid respectively as in times past 
within the said town, hath been had and used," anything in 
the charter of Elizabeth to the contrary notwithstanding. 

The charter then recites that there had been, beyond the 
memory of man, a fish-market in the town, held by custom; 
and grants a confirmation of such custom ; 

— that all fishermen taking fish in the fishing places of the 
town, its liberties, and precincts, should bring such fish to 
the common fish-market, to be exposed to sale for one 
hour, before being carried to any other market or place 
of sale ; 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 201 

— that the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty 
should have power and authority to appoint bye-laws for 
the government of the corporation, " and of all officers, 
members, ministers, artificers, burgesses, inhabitants, and 
residents whatsoever of the said town and county ;" and for 
the payment of all necessary public impositions and ex- 
penses, and of all other matters and things concerning the 
said town and county ; with power of levy and distress 
for fines ; 

— that burgesses chosen to any of the offices, except the 
office of town-clerk, recorder, and serjeant-at-mace, and 
refusing to serve, should be fined in such penalty as to 
the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty should 
seem reasonable ; with power of levy and distress ; 

— that the mayor, &c. should have power to fine absentees 
from meetings regularly summoned; no such fine to 
exceed five shillings for one default ; 

« — that the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty 
should have authority, as often as should seem necessary, 
" reasonably to tax and assess all officers, burgesses, and 
other inhabitants within the town aforesaid, or the county 
thereof, or the liberties or precincts of the same, for and 
towards the necessary reparations of the bridges, walls, and 
banks of the town and county aforesaid; and for and 
towards the necessary cleansing and purging of the waters, 
aqueducts, and channels of the said town or county, there- 
unto belonging or appertaining ;" and for and towards the 
necessary maintenance or defence of the lands, tenements, 
goods, chattels, rights, liberties, and privileges of the town 
and corporation aforesaid ; and for and towards the pay- 
ment and satisfaction of any necessary public charges and 
expenses of the said town, &c. ; with power of levy and 
distress and arrest ; 

— that the liberties, &c, granted, should be held without 
hindrance or molestation of any justices, sheriffs, &c. ; 

— that no writ of quo warranto should issue against the 

2 D 



202 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

mavor, &c, for any thing done before this charter ; and 
that they should not be accountable for any abuse before 
this charter ; 

— that the mayor, bailiffs, aldermen, recorder, sheriff, 
burgesses, and town clerk, and all other officers and 
ministers of the town, and the justices, should, before their 
admission into office, take the oaths of obedience and 
supremacy ; 

— that no recorder or town clerk should be admitted to 
office before being approved of by the king. 

Under this charter, in conjunction with that of 10th 
Elizabeth, the borough continued to be governed, till the 
1st of January, 1836, except during the short time, to be 
presently spoken of, when it suffered deprivation of its 
privileges by an adverse judgment on a quo ivarranto. 
The additional privileges granted by this charter were few 
and of slight importance; and it would appear that the 
real, though not avowed object, of issuing it, was to afford 
some sanction to the select system that had been intro- 
duced, and which would naturally be encouraged by the 
court, at that time seeking to establish its rule on the more 
concealed power of influence, rather than on the bold 
exercise of a questioned prerogative. In this charter we 
find the first mention of two classes of burgesses, the one 
described as that of " capital burgesses/' The power of 
making bye-laws, so fully given by this charter, and several 
other parts of it, were well calculated to establish the 
change. 

Towards the close of his reign, Charles II. made a 
violent attack upon the rights of the subject, by an almost 
general seizure of the charters of boroughs, by virtue of 
writs of quo warra7ito. The king' was urged to this course 
by the dissensions with his parliament; and his object was 
to obtain an ascendancy over all the cities and boroughs 
throughout the kingdom ; and by such means to procure 
the return of a more accommodating parliament. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 203 

The corporation of Poole had, probably, manifested a 
more sturdy spirit than the king had anticipated on the 
grant of the charter in the 1 9th year of his reign ; for that 
town was amongst the sufferers in the general seizure, 
June 27, 1683, 35 Car. II., a writ of quo warranto was 
issued by sir Robert Sawyer, the king's attorney-general, 
calling upon the mayor, &c, to show by what authority 
they exercised their privileges. 

The burgesses of Poole were intimidated by these pro- 
ceedings, and, as was the case with many other boroughs, 
prudently made a humble submission to the king, of which 
the following is a copy : — 

" The most humble address and submission of the mayor, 
bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty of your majesties 
ancient corporation of your town and county of Poole, 
at the guildhall assembled. 
" Most Gracious Sovereign ; 

" From the deepest sense of our duty and 
God's great mercy to us in the happy deliverance of your 
sacred person, and dearest brother, James, duke of Yorke, 
from the late barbarous and bloody conspiracy contrived 
and carried on by men of trayterous and hellish principles,^ 
wee do most humbly beseech your most gratious majesty 
to accept this our most hearty and sincere suite, which (like 
the poor widdow) wee doe cast into the treasury of ad- 
dresses (beeing heartiely sorry that wee haue not done itt 
sooner), most humbly assureing your majesty that wee doe 
detest and from the bottom of our hearts abhorre that 
deuellish and hellish conspiracy, and doe heartiely pray 
the King of Kings and Gouernour of all things (whome 
wee blesse for your majesty's signall and miraculous pre- 
seruation) to continue his wonted providence, and grante 
your majesty a long life, and a prosperous reign over us. 

" And wee doe most humbly supplicate your majesty's 
gratious acceptance of our lives and fortunes which wee are 
mutually resolued to expose in the defence of your sacred 
person, your royal I brother, and lawfull successors, and 



• Allusion is here made to the Rye House Plot, "which had been discovered a few 
months before. 



204 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

the government by law established both in church and 
state, from all treasonable conspiracyes and trayterous 
associacions. And wee doe faythfully engage that when- 
soeuer your majesty shall vouchsafe to call your great 
council in parliament, wee will choose such persons for 
burgesses whose actions shall giue us greatest hopes of 
loyalty. 

" And whereas, notwithstanding your majesty has been 
gratiously pleased since your happy restoration to this your 
kingdom and crown (by a charter granted to us in the 
18th [19th] yeare of your majesty's happy reigne), not 
onely to confirme our libertyes and franchises, granted to 
us in seuerall charters of your royall predecessors, but 
allsoe therein of your royall goodness to add seuerall pri- 
vileges and libertys thereto, yett such is our unhappiness att 
this tyme (by the ill management and abuse thereof by 
some amongst us) to give your majesty such just cause of 
displeasure as to cause a quo warranto to be brought 
against them. 

" Wee doe, therefore, in all humillity, and with the 
greatest submission, prostrate ourselves att your royall 
feet, earnestly entreating your gratious pardon for euery 
offence whereby wee haue incurred your majesty's dis- 
pleasure, and that of your great goodnesse you will not 
ruine so anscient and (may wee presume to say itt) loyall 
corporacione and towne and county for the miscarriage of 
some few disaffected persons, butt that your majesty would 
most gratiously incline to shew the same princely clemency 
and compassion to us as you have of late to your royall 
citty of London, by continueing to us our anscient libertyes 
and franchises, reserving to your majesty and successors 
the approbacion and confirmacion of our respective mayor, 
bailiffs, sheriffs, recorder, towne-clerke, or any other 
officer, in such manner as vour majesty, in your princely 
wisdom, shall think fitt. 

" And wee, in the name of ourselves and all the inhabi- 
tants of this towne and county, doe most humbly tender to 
your majesty the most faithfull and sincere promises and 
assurances of constant loyallty and stedfast obedience to 
your majesty, your heirs and lawfull successors, and of our 
dutifull and lawfull administration of the government of 
this towne and county for the future. And wee doe most 
humbly submitt ourselues in all things relateing to our 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 205 

charter to your majesty's good pleasure, which wee begg 
to receive, being unanimously resolved to yeeld obedience 
thereunto, with all humility and thankfullness. In testi- 
mony whereof wee have caused the common seal of this 
towne and county to bee hereunto affixed ; and allsoe sett 
our hands this l$ th day of Sept., in the xxxv yeare of your 
majesty's reign." 

From a curious correspondence that ensued on the mat- 
ter, we find that this dutiful submission experienced a very 
favourable reception at the royal hands. The address was 
entrusted to Mr, Benjamin Skutt, of London, for presenta- 
tion to the king, and his letter is curious, as descriptive of 
the royal reception, and of the expressions that fell from 
the king on the occasion. It was as follows : — 

" London, the 4 th Oct., 1683. 
" Sirs, 

" I have received yours of the 1 st pres 1 with 
the enclosed address, which, according to your order, have 
been this morning delivered his majesty, and kindly re- 
ceived, which being a matter of so great importance, have 
thought it my duty to acquaynt you with all the circum- 
stances which attended it. As soon as received it, I 
accquaynted sir Benjamin Newland thereof, who the night 
before came to towne, and had promised to serve you in 
giveing countenance to itt by his presence, and then wayted 
on the earle of Rochester, who before knew of your designe 
and promised to favour you in itt. Hee read itt, and very 
well liked itt, and appointed our attendance at Whitehall, 
and then sent for us to the councill chamber, where his 
majesty beeing come to councill upon an extraordenary 
occasion, before the council sate, the lords beeing present, 
wee were sent for in, and his majesty receiving us with a 
pleasant countenance, wee, accquaynting him with the 
occasion of our attendance, uppon our knees delivered the 
addresse into his majesty's hands, who, receiving itt with 
all demonstrations of kindnesse, gave itt to one of the 
clarkes of the councill to reade itt, which beeing done, his 
majesty was pleased to give this gratious answer ; that he 
kindly received your addresse and submission, and that he 
would give directions to his attorney-generall that the 
matter relateing to your charter should be settled as you 



206 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

pray'd for ; that hee never intended to take any tiling* from 
his subjects butt what should bee for their good, and 
would tend to the peace and quiett of his government and 
to keepe ill men out of itt that might disturb itt ; which 
answer had you heard from his majesty's own mouth 1 
know would have been more pleasing to you coming from 
so great a king and the best of men, who studdyes the good 
of his subjects, and whoever suffers under his government, 
it's only from themselves, as wee of this citty have lately 
once sadly experimented, wee not haveing complved with 
our promises to soe good a king by the pre valency of 
factious illminded men, wee are now reduced from a 
famous citty onely to a great village, his majesty beeing 
provoked to enter up judgment agaynst our charter, all our 
libertyes, franchises, lands, &c.,~ are forfeited and seized 
into the king's hands, and many thousands of widdows and 
orphans left in a most deplorable perishing condition, and 
wee are now governed by the old lord mayor, who haue 
this day received a new commission from his majesty, 
and by virtue thereof now acts. You have taken a better 
course, and doubt not you will find the good effect of itt. 
I must acequaynt you that it is expected the attorney-gen- 
erall be attended, and a legall settlement made as he shall 
advise : his majesty expects onely to reserve the approba- 
tion of your officers which I understand must be done by 
some new instrument, the privileges of your former charters 
remaining in all other things as formerly enjoyed. If you 
please to command mee to undertake the conduct of itt, I 
shall performe itt with all care and respect to your interest, 
and observe your directions in all things. Soe present you 
my hble. service, and assure 1 am att your commands 

" "Ben: Skutt." 
The further services of Mr. Skutt were accepted, and the 
loyal corporation were ready to accede to any conditions 
required by the king, as will be seen by the reply to the 
above letter. 

" Poole, Oct. 8, 1683. 
" Mr. Benj. Skutt. 
« Sir, . 

" We have your's of the 4 th current; 
and considering itts contents, must acknowledg ourselves 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 207 

highly obliged for your great care and kindnesse in the 
soe speedy delivery of our addresse and submission, the 
good successe whereof in meeting with soe gratious an 
acceptance from soe great a prince and best of men, as 
by observing the several! circumstances that attended the 
delivery thereof so particularly sett down in your's, occa- 
sioned great joy to all the auditors, which were many, at 
Mr. Mayor's house Satterday last; and this day at the 
guildhall it was ordered att a meeting- there, that your 
letter with the whole proceedings should be recorded/ and 
thanks returned to you for your kindnesse, and by you to 
the earle of Rochester and sir Benj. Newland, which, as 
you have opportunity, wee pray you to doe, and then 
further considering the latter part of your letter, what is 
further to bee done to compleat the businesse (who shou'd 
attend the attorney-generall), would not admit of any 
debate at all, as wee thought of noe person in the first 
place more fitt and on our application more ready to serve 
us in what is allready done, soe since you are now pleas'd 
to prevent a future request by soe readiely offering your 
conduct of what remaynes, wee doe unanimously and 
wholly leave itt to you, not doubting butt as you have been 
very tinde and dilligent hitherto, soe you will bee very 
cordiall and carefull in the management of what remaynes 
as much as in you lyeth for the corporacion's interest, and 
if you shall have occasion of advice, to advise with such 
councill as you shall think fitt, and when you shall have 
occasion of money please to advise us, and wee will take 
care to remitt itt you or pay itt to your order which shall 
be most for your convenience. Sir, wee wholly confide in 
you, trusting wee haue a very faythfull friend, and you 
shall ever finde the like in, 

"Hon d Sir, 
" Your assured lo : friends. 

" As you doe anything in this businesse, please to advise 
us thereof from tyme to tyme, and wee desire it may be 
finisht with all nesesary speede." 

But, notwithstanding the favourable manner in which 
the submission was received, and the readiness of the sub- 
scribers to accord with any royal desire, it appears that the 
matter was not then satisfactorily arranged; and, accord- 



208 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

ingly, in the Easter term following*, judgment was entered 
up against the borough, and renewed in Trinity term, 2nd 
Jac. II. ;# the effect of which was to take away all the 
local privileges of the town, granted to it in all the previous 
charters. 

Immediately previous to the issue of the quo warranto, 
a commission of the peace was issued, dated Feb. 15, 35th 
Car. II. (1682-3), directed to sir Francis North, lord 
keeper of the great seal of England; John, earl of Radnor, 
president of the privy council ; George, marquis of Halifax, 
keeper of the privy seal ; the duke of Albemarle; Robert, 
earl of Lindsey, great chamberlain of England ; Henry, 
earl of Arlington, chamberlain of the household; the 
mayor of the town and county of Poole for the time being; 
Nathaniel Napier, bart. ; Thomas Erie, Thomas Chafin, 
William Culliford, Anthony Ettricke, George Ryves, 
Henry Constantine, and William Ogden, esquires; ap- 
pointing them jointly and severally to be justices of the 
peace in the town and county of Poole and the limits and 
boundaries thereof, with the customary powers, &c. This 
commission is still preserved, with the great seal appended 
to it.f 

In the species of interregnum that prevailed in the town 
from the issue of the quo warranto till the grant of the 
charter of the 4th Jac. II., the lord of the manor held his 
courts-leet in Poole, and attempted to recover his ancient 
right of electing a mayor out of three persons presented by 
the jury. The attempt, however, was unsuccessful, and 
the mayor and other officers appointed at the lord's court 
were never suffered to officiate, the duties of the mayoralty 
being performed by John Wyndham, of Salisbury, who 



* Although rules for judgment had passed upon information against a very great 
number of corporations and bodies politic of the kingdom, yet no judgments were 
entered upon record upon any such information, except against the city of London, 
Poole, Chester, Calne, St. Ives, York, Thaxted, Llaughour, and Malmesbury. 

+ There is also in the archives of the corporation an impression of the great seal 
of queen Anne ; but the document to which it was affixed has not been preserved. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 209 

was appointed to the office by commission, or by Allen 
Skutt, his deputy, also appointed by commission. 

The object of the forced surrender of the charters was 
not to destroy the existence of the corporations, but, by 
remodelling them through the agency of new char- 
ters, to bring them under the influence of the crown, and 
make them convenient instruments of government. To 
effect this purpose, new charters were granted to many 
boroughs, in which clauses were inserted, reserving the 
right of removal of officers to the crown, and providing 
other conditions with a similar tendency. 

Thus, in the 4th Jac. II. (Sept. 15, 1688), a charter was 
issued to Poole, containing' these objectionable clauses, and 
otherwise throwing the influence of the corporation into 
the hands of the crown. 

It recited the judgments upon quo zvarranto, and the 
petition of the inhabitants for renewed liberties, &c, and, 
in consideration thereof, granted 

— that the town should be a county of itself; 

— that the burgesses and inhabitants should be a body 
corporate, by name of the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses 
of the town of Poole in the county of the town of Poole ; 
to have perpetual succession, and to be capable of pur- 
chasing and holding lands, of sueing and being sued, &c, 
and to have a common seal, with power to alter the same ; 

— that there should be one mayor, one recorder, one 
sheriff, eighteen burgesses or common council men, and 
one town-clerk : Moses Durell was named the first mayor; 
Henry Trenchard, first recorder; Thomas Smith, first 
sheriff; Moses Durell, Richard Penney, John Gigger, 
William Minty, John Carter, Henry Jubber, James Halli- 
bread, and Joseph Hopkins, first aldermen ; William Pike, 
sen., Thomas Smith, Martin Rose, Richard Topp, John 
Lintren, sen., Timothy Bird, William Collands, John 
Hookey, Anthony Smith, Richard Buckenham, Robert 
Wharton, Abraham Smith, Walter Spurrer, Simon Whit- 

2E 



210 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

son, Richard Sutton, sen., Robert Bayly, jun., and George 
Olliffe, first burgesses or common councilmen ; John 
Blunt, first town-clerk ; 

— that the officers should continue in office as formerly ; 

— that the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses or common 
councilmen, should have full power to make laws for the 
good rule and government of the town, and to alter the 
same ; with power to levy penalties upon offenders, to be 
enjoyed to their own use without accounting ; 

— that the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses or council- 
men should have power to tax and assess all officers, 
burgesses, and other inhabitants, towards the necessary 
repairing of the bridges, walls, and banks of the town and 
county ; and towards the payment of the necessary taxes 
and expenses of the town, and towards any other matters 
and things necessarily touching and concerning the sup- 
porting of the said town and corporation ; with power of 
levy and distress ; 

— that the mayor, recorder, and three aldermen to be 
annually elected, should be justices of the peace within the 
town and its liberties ; 

— that the mayor should be sworn as mayor and justice ; 
the recorder, sheriff, aldermen, burgesses or common 
councilmen, and town clerk to be sworn ; 

— that the mayor might appoint one of the aldermen as his 
deputy mayor ; and that the recorder might also appoint a 
deputy ; both deputies to be sworn ; 

— that power should be reserved to the king to remove 
the mayor or any officer at his pleasure ; that others 
should be elected in the room of those so removed ; and 
that if the vacancies should not be filled within twenty 
days after such removal, the king should have power to 
nominate ; and in that case all other elections should be 
void ; 

— that the mayor, recorder, sheriff, aldermen, burgesses or 
common councilmen, and town clerk, and their successors, 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 211 

should be exempted from taking the oaths of supremacy 
and allegiance, and the oaths in the act 13th Car. II., and 
from taking the sacrament and subscribing the declaration; 

— that no recorder or town clerk should be admitted 
without the king's approval ; 

— that the mayor, &c, should have power to hold lands 
not exceeding £100 annual value, with licence to let the 
same ; 

— and that they should enjoy the same liberties, &c, as 
they formerly enjoyed, paying and rendering for the same 
as theretofore. 

This charter was so distasteful to the inhabitants, that it 
was not accepted, it being wisely determined to reject the 
dangerous encroachments on the liberty of the subject 
involved in its provisions. At this time, too, a spirit of 
resistance to the arbitrary measures of James II. was 
generally springing up throughout the country, and that 
weak and misjudging monarch found, when it was too late, 
the danger of that extent to which he had carried his des- 
potic views. The acts of the last few weeks of his reign 
evince the existence of this too-long deferred conviction. 

Amongst those measures was the grant of a charter of 
complete restoration to the borough of Poole, without any 
of those objectionable provisions contained in the rejected 
charter just recited. 

This charter, which bears date Dec. 8, 4th Jac. II. 
(1688), in consideration of the good service of the bur- 
gesses and inhabitants of the town and county of Poole, as 
likewise for the good government of the same, released 
the burgesses and inhabitants, as likewise the late mayor, 
bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty, from the judgments 
obtained against the mayor, &c, upon the quo warranto^ 
and from the penalties and forfeitures consequent thereon ; 
and granted 

— that all their liberties, franchises, lands, tenements, &c, 
should be restored, as before the judgment ; and that the 



212 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

burgesses and inhabitants of the town should be incorpo- 
rated by the name of the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and 
commonalty ; 

— that the mayor, recorder, bailiffs, capital burgesses or 
aldermen, sheriff, town clerk, and all freemen, officers, and 
ministers whatsoever, who were in office at the time of 
obtaining the judgments, should be restored to their res- 
pective offices and places ; and the following persons were 
declared so restored to the offices held by them at the time 
of the judgment in the 2nd Jac. II., viz. : — James Halli- 
bread to the office of mayor ; William White, recorder ; 
William Street, senior bailiff; Shadrach Beale, sheriff; 
James Hallibread, William Street, Moses Durell, sen., 
John Carter, sen., William Orchard, Nicholas Efford, 
John Willis, sen., and Allen Skutt, capital burgesses or 
aldermen; William Weston, water bailiff ; Moses Durell, 
jun., town clerk ; 

— that the mayor, recorder, capital burgesses or aldermen, 
and burgesses, should cause other officers to be elected in 
the customary manner and form ; that the burgesses and 
freemen should be convened and assemble to make and 
constitute laws, &c, as theretofore ; and that the burgesses 
and inhabitants should be gathered together in the usual 
place, to make elections, and do all other things requisite 
and accustomed; and that the mayor, recorder, capital 
burgesses or aldermen, and the burgesses, being gathered 
together in the common hall, should exercise the same 
power and authority as before ; 

— that the mayor, and recorder, and their deputies, and 
such aldermen as were justices of the peace at the time of 
the judgment, should be restored to the office ; 

— that a new mayor, new bailiffs, a new sheriff, and other 
new officers, should be chosen on the usual day, and in 
manner and form as before the judgment; 

— that the several officers should, before their admission to 
execute the duties of their respective offices, take the usual 
oaths. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 213 

This charter of restitution was obtained by the influence 
and through the instrumentality of sir Nathaniel Napier, 
who sustained the expense incurred in procuring it; found- 
ing on his liberality in this respect, and on a considerable 
charitable donation made at the same time, a claim upon 
the suffrages of the burgesses on the summoning of the 
convention parliament. 

The charter was granted prior to the issue of the pro- 
clamation for restoring the corporations promulgated by 
James II., at Faversham, after his flight from London.^ 



* The king fled from London Dec. 12 ; and this proclamation was afterwards issued 
at Faversham,— the last act of his expiring power, too late to retrieve his errors, and 
only in time to shew that he was sensible of them, and desirous, if possible, of 
correcting them. It commences with a recital that several deeds of surrender had 
been lately made by several corporations and bodies corporate, of their charters, 
franchises, and privileges, which had not been recorded or enrolled ; and that upon 
the proceedings and rules for judgment which had been lately had upon the quo 
warrantos, judgments had not been entered upon record ; whereupon, notwithstand- 
ing, new charters had been granted in the reign of Charles II. and in his own ; which 
deeds, not being enrolled, did not amount to, or in law make any surrender of, the 
charters, franchises, or liberties mentioned : and such of the corporations against 
which rules for judgments had been made in the lifetime of king Charles II., or since, 
in the court of king's bench, but no judgment entered on record, were not discor- 
porate or dissolved -. and that it was in the king's power to leave such corporations 
in the same estate and condition they were in ; and to discharge all further proceed- 
ings tbat might be, of such rules for judgment and deeds of surrender. That the 
deeds of surrender made by the corporations and bodies politic, except the following, 
viz.: — Thetford, Jsottingham, Bridgwater, Ludlow, Bewdley, Beverley, Exeter, 
Tewkesbury, Doncaster, Colchester, Winchester, Launceston, Liskeard, Plympton, 
Tregony, Plymouth, Dunwich, St. Ives, Fowey, East Looe, Camelford, West Looe, 
Tintagel, Penryn, Tiuro, Bodmin, Hadleigh, Lostwithiel, and Saltash, were not 
enrolled or recorded in any of the king's courts. 

That though rules for judgment had passed upon information against the corpo- 
rations and bodies politic of several cities and towns, yet no judgments had been 
entered on record upon any such informations, except against those specified, p. 208. 

That to restore and put all cities, towns, and boroughs in England and Wales, and 
also the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, into the same state and condition they were 
in before any deed of surrender was made of their charters, franchises, or proceed- 
ings against them, the king directed that the corporations and bodies politic of all 
cities, towns, and boroughs, whose deeds of surrender were not enrolled, nor judg- 
ments entered against them ; and all the members in every of them respectively, 
should immediately proceed to act as a corporation or body politic ; and when places 
were vacant, to make immediate elections, and to execute every matter and thing as 
they lawfully might have done, if no such deeds of surrender or rules for judgment 
had been had or made. 

That all the corporate officers from their offices had been dismissed, which they 
claimed to hold only by charter, grant, or patent, from Charles II., or the king, 
since the dates of the respective deeds of surrender, &c, except such corporations 
whose deeds of surrender were enrolled, or against whom judgment was entered. 

The king also j>romised be would grant to the cities, corporations, and boroughs, 
any further act to connrm unto them all their charters, &c, which they at the times 
oi such deeds of surrender, held or enjoyed. 



214 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

But although this charter bears date Dec. 8, it was not 
produced and promulgated in the town until the 24th of 
that month, when it was brought by sir Nathaniel Napier, 
and read, and the restored officers were duly sworn and 
admitted to their respective offices. 

From this time, the course of municipal government in 
the borough continued uniform down to the alteration 
effected by the act for the regulation of municipal corpo- 
rations, [5th & 6th Wm. IV., c. 76]. 

In 1833, the king issued a commission for the purpose 
of obtaining information respecting the condition of the 
municipal corporations. Though the legality of this com- 
mission was much questioned-f", and though several 
corporations with impunity resisted the investigation it 
purposed, yet the corporation of Poole, submitted to 
a searching enquiry instituted by Mr. Gambier, one of the 
commissioners, and afforded him ample information. Mr. 
Gambier visited Poole, for the purposes of the enquiry, 
Jan. 22 and 23, 1834. The following extracts from the 



That as to those corporations which had made deeds of surrender, or had judgments 
given against them, and which were entered on record, the chancellor, attorney and 
solicitor-general, should, upon application, without fee or reward, pass charters, 
instruments, and grants^ for the incorporating, regranting, confirming, and restoring 
to them their respective charters, liberties, &c. ; and also for restoring all their officers, 
at the times of such deeds of surrender or judgments, who were then in office. 

That divers boroughs, which had not been corporations before 1679, and had their 
charters of incorporation subsequently granted to them, should, from thenceforth, 
cease and determine ; and that all and every person in those corporations should be 
removed and discharged from their offices. 

That the king would do any other act that would render these matters effectual : 
and that it was his intention to call a parliament as soon as the general disturbance of 
the kingdom, by the intended invasion, would admit. 

To this conciliatory and beneficial proclamation, the fullest effect has been given by 
the courts of law. 

* Serious doubts were entertained by many, best informed upon these subjects, as 
to the legality of the commission. That the king, by virtue of his prerogative, is 
enabled, as part of the executive functions of the crown, — and, constitutionally 
speaking, is bound— to superintend the due execution of the law in the several muni- 
cipal institutions of the country, cannot be doubted. And, for such purposes, 
an oath might perhaps be ordered to be administered, in order to obtain the most 
correct information. But whether the crown can with propriety investigate the 
finances — or inquire into the property of the corporations — who are its grantees — is 
a question involved in great and serious difficulties, — Meeewethek and Stephens, 
2270. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 215 

report presented by the learned commissioner, will describe 
the nature and condition of the corporation at that time. 

" LIMITS. 

" Land jurisdiction. — The land jurisdiction of the cor- 
poration of Poole is co-extensive with the parish of St. 
James, and the boundaries are well understood and 
defined." 

" Admiralty jurisdiction. — The corporation have an 
admiralty jurisdiction, the boundary-line of which is not 
verv accurately ascertained, but which comprehends 
certain points which are perfectly well known^." 

" STYLE AND CONSTITUTION. 

" The style of the corporation is « the mayor, bailiffs, 
burgesses, and commonaltv of the town of Poole.' It 
consists of a mayor, two bailiffs, and an unlimited number 
of burgesses. The commonalty have no distinct character 
in this corporation : nor are any corporate functions vested 
in them by the charters. 

" Mayor. — The mayor is chosen annually on Friday 
before St. Matthew's day, by the whole of the burgesses, 
out of their own body ; but this qualification is annexed to 
the character of the candidates and to that of the electors, 
that all must be resident. No non-resident burgess is 
eligible to the office of mayor, and no non-resident bur- 
gesses are permitted to vote at his election. There existed 
at one time a practice for the mayor and aldermen to 
nominate three candidates, out of whom the burgesses 
elected one to be mayor. In 1810, this system of nomina- 
tion was resisted, and the mayor, who had been elected 
under it, was ousted by judgment in quo ivarranto. Since 
that time, and until very lately, the office of mayor was 
made attainable only upon having served certain other 
offices in the corporation ; and a bve-law, to that effect, 
was passed in 1830. But in the succeeding year that bye- 



* The admiralty jurisdiction will be separately treated of iu a future page. 



216 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

law was rescinded, and there is now no such rule or re- 
striction as to the party who is to be chosen mayor^. The 
mayor takes the oath of office before the burgesses, at the 
time of his election. If the mayor dies during his year of 
office, another is chosen in the same manner, for the re- 
mainder of the year. Such an event occurred in Poole 
during the last year. 

" Bailiffs. — The two bailiffs are elected by and from the 
burgesses, at the same time and in the same manner as the 
mayor. The general practice (which has, however, been 
sometimes departed from) is that the mayor going out of 
office should be senior bailiff for the next year. The other 
bailiff is called the water bailifff. 

" Burgesses. — The burgesses are unlimited in number. 
They are chosen from time to time by the resident bur- 
gesses, the mayor and bailiffs being always present when 
they are elected. The right, if it be one, to form a select 
body of burgesses, is not conferred by the charter of Eliz- 
abeth, nor, indeed, as far as appears, by any other charter. 
It is a usage, however, which has so far been confirmed, 
that the elective franchise has been adjudged to exist in the 
select body of burgesses formed in this manner. Until 
lately no rule as to choosing resident inhabitants for bur- 
gesses has been observed. But, in 1830, the choice of 
burgesses was confined to those who resided in the borough. 
On that occasion 92 burgesses were created, many of them 
minors of all ages. With regard to these latter, it is 
understood that it is an honorary obligation on the corpo- 
rate body to re-admit them when they attain their full age. 
In general the election of burgesses is an open election, 
there being no right or practice to nominate either in any 
individual or in any class of persons ; but, in 1830, it was 



* This practice of rotation of office prevailed from a very early period, as lias 
been already shewn (p. 170). 

t The bailiffs were formerly distinguished as the high bailiff [capitalis ballivus] 
and under bailiff [sub-ballivusj. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 217 

agreed that each burgess should nominate two candidates, 
and these were as a matter of course elected. Each bur- 
gess on his admission pays a fine to the general fund of the 
corporation. The amount of this fine is settled by the 
corporation at a meeting previous to the election ; it has 
varied from time to time, but of late years has been 
usually £25^. The newly-admitted burgess also pays 

the following fees : — 

£ s. d. 

'• To the town clerk 2 2 

li To his clerk 5 

" To each serjeant-at-mace, 10s. 6d. ... 1 1 

3 8 Of 
" Although residence is not made a necessary qualifica- 
tion in a candidate for admission into the corporation, it is 
considered an indispensable requisite to the exercise of his 
corporate functions after being admitted. This has been 
already mentioned in speaking of the office of mayor, and 
it applies also to other casesj. There is an instance in 
1819, of a non-resident burgess who came to Poole for the 
purpose of voting in a meeting- of the corporation, and 
whose name was, by reason of his being a non-resident, 
erased by the mavor from the list of those who had voted ; 
and a minute to that effect was made in the bookg. 

* The bye-laws regulating the election of burgesses hare varied occasionally in 
accordance with circumstances ; the variations being in regard to the number of 
burgesses whose consent should be deemed necessary to an admission, and the 
amount of the fine to be paid to the funds of the corporation by a newly-elected 
The gradual progress in the amount of this fine has been already alluded to 
p. 192). The practice of making burgesses was generally resorted to when the 
corporation funds happened to be low, and some improvement of the town was 
deemed requisite. Previously to the act of the 29th Geo. II., such a course was fre- 
quently adopted for the purpose of raising fuuds to improve the quays : and when 
92 burgesses were admitted in 1830, at fines of £25 each, amounting to £2300, we learn 
from the commissioner's report, that " the whole of this fund was expended in the 
yean 1830, 1831, and 1832, in the improvement of the town." 

1 lie has also to pay for the admission stamp. 

i The non-resident burgesses frequently attempted to interfere in the internal 

regulations of the borough ; but their right to do so was never sanctioned. In 1818, 

ted their case to Mr. Serjeant Copley (now lord Lyndhurst), and his opinion 

was adverse to their claim. Their privilege was confined to the exercise of the 

parliamentary franchise. 

1 An instance occurs, 1080, of a burgess having been deprived of his burgess-shin ; 
but the power of removal docs not appear to have been well established. 

2 V 



218 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

" In the case of the mayor and bailiffs, the rule of resi- 
dence is generally with great strictness enforced. In 1829, 
and again in 1831, one of the bailiffs was removed on 
account of his being* in each case resident out of the 
borough ; and there are instances of other officers being 1 
removed for the same caused. 

" OFFICERS. 

" The officers of the corporation are the mayor, recorder, 
aldermen, senior bailiff, four justices, sheriff, town clerk, 
water bailiff, two coroner?, two constables of the staple, 
key-keepers, a high constable and three other constables, 
two Serjeants at mace, crier, and hayward. There are 
also corn meters appointed by the corporation, a treasurer 
who keeps the accounts of the quay and harbour dues ; 
and a quay, harbour, and ballast master, who receives 
them-f*. 

" Mayor. — The mayor of Poole, who is also styled 
mayor of the staple, is a justice of the peace for the 
borough, one of the judges of the weekly court of record, 
clerk of the market, and admiral of the port. As clerk of 
the market he appoints a deputy, who is inspector of the 
market. The mayor has no salary. The only incidental 
emoluments which he receives, are a bushel of corn from 



* The earliest recorded instance of a penalty for absence, is dated May 22, 1583, 
when it was ordered that Christopher Farwell, senior bailiff", should be fined £30 for 
absenting himself from his office, by going to Newfoundland, without the consent of 
the mayor, justices, brethren, and the rest of the burgesses, 

+ Porters also were formerly appointed by the corporation ; and in 1723, the rates 
of porterage were regulated by an order which is curious as affording some indi- 
cation of the confined extent of the town at that period. It settles that the porterage 
for a bushel of coals shall be as follows : — From the great quay to 

High Street — Court corner, Id. ; to Mr. Benjamin Skutt's gate, ljd. ; to Henry 
Strong's house, l§d. ; to Bull Head, l|d. j to any part of High street above Bull 
Head, 2d. 

Market Street — to Mr. John Durell's house, Id. ; to Mr. Wm. Fooks's house, 
l|d. ; to the east end of the Market house, l£d. ; to Market lane, l|d. ; above Market 
lane, 2d. 

Strand— to John Catridge's house, Id. ; to Pelly's entry, l$d. ; to Sutton's corner, 
l|d. ; to Gray's entry, ljd. ; thence to the end of Leg lane, 2d. 

West Street — to widow Bennett's house, Id. ; to Dudley Digges's house, ljd. ; 
to John Hose's house, l|d. ; to Mary Sutton's house, 13d. ; beyond the same, 2d, 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 219 

every foreign vessel bringing" corn to the port, and a con- 
tribution of fish from all fishermen not belonging to the 
port, who bring fish for sale^. 

" Recorder. — The recorder is chosen for life, by a ma- 
jority of the resident burgesses, subject to the approbation 
of the crown. The approval of the crown is signified 
under the sign manual, countersigned by the secretary of 
state for the home department. The practice has been to 
elect barristers to this office. The recorder himself is not 
usually resident. There is at the present time a deputy 
recorder, who attends the sessions, but it is said to be an 
unusual thing to appoint a deputy. The recorder is one 
of the justices of the borough, and, when present, presides 
at the quarter sessions. He has no salary or other emolu- 
ment. 

" Aldermen. — The body of aldermen is composed of 
those members of the corporation who have served the 
office of mayor. They are mentioned in this place because 
it does not appear that they constitute, for any purpose, an 
integral part of the corporation. The charter of Charles 
the second directs that six justices of the borough should 
take the oath of justice of the peace in the presence of the 
aldermen or of any two of them ; and it is still the practice 
to administer the oath in their presence. They have also, 
conjointly with the mayor, the appointment of the two 
Serjeants at mace. There are now twelve aldermen in the 
corporation. 



* The mayor was formerly allowed a sum from the corporation fund to cover the 
necessary expenses of the office. In 1589, it was ordered "that the mayor for the 
time being should have his annual sums, viz., the recorder's fee, and for his diet, the 
mayor's yearly allowance for his kitchen, the Serjeants' yearly wages, and for his 
tahle." In 1589, it was agreed by the corporation, that thenceforth the mayor should 
"be allowed annually the sum of £24, in discharge of his mayor's feast, quarter 
sessions, monthly meetings, festival days, and other charges during his said yeare of 
mayoralty." The principal expense that devolved upon the mayor in late years was 
that contingent on the practice, still maintained, of giving a public breakfast to the 
inhabitants, bel I church on his first public appearance with tl 

office, which i si ond Sunday after his elec 

break f t, . b ... suite. 



220 MUNICIPAL HISTORY, 

" Senior bailiff. — The senior bailiff is a judge of the 
weekly court of record, and is usually elected one of the 
four justices of the peace. 

" Justices. — Besides the senior bailiff, three other bur-* 
gesses are elected annually, on the Friday before St, 
Matthew's day, which is called the charter-day, and is the 
day for electing to all the annual offices of the corporation. 
They are elected in the same manner as the mayor. It is 
the practice for all the four justices to attend at the petty 
sessions, which are held at the same time and place as the 
weekly court, which will hereafter be mentioned. But the 
mayor usually takes upon himself the ordinary business of 
magistrate in the town. 

" Sheriff \ — The sheriff is elected annually, in the same 
manner as the mayor. He has the exclusive execution of 
all writs and process within the town and county, except 
those issuing from the weekly court of record ; and has in 
all respects the same power as the sheriff of a county at 
large. The sheriff has the usual fees of office, and receives 
also from the corporation the sum of twenty guineas for 
his quietus, 

" Town clerk. — The town clerk is elected for life, in 
the same manner as the recorder, and the choice of the 
corporation must be approved of, in the same manner, by 
the crown. He is clerk of the peace, clerk to the magis- 
trates, and prothonotary of the weekly court of record^. 
He has a salary of twenty pounds a year from the corpora- 
tion for attending their meetings and recording the pro- 
ceedings which take place. He receives fees at sessions as 
clerk of the peace, upon nearly the same scale as that 
which is made use of in the county of Dorset. The fees 
are said to be in some respects less than those of the county 
at large. As magistrates' clerk he also takes, it is said, 
the same fees as the clerk of the magistrates in the county 



; Jle was also formerly appointed clerk of the staple ; and an old record book in 
£hg archives of the corporation contains the oath to be taken by him in that capacity. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 221 

of Dorset ; but it seems to be doubtful whether the fees in 
Poole are regulated by those in Dorsetshire. One instance 
was mentioned in which the difference is considerable ; the 
fee for a summons in the count v of Dorset being- one 
shilling 1 , that in the town and county of Poole being" two 
shillings. The town clerk prepares the corporation leases, 
and is paid for them by the tenants. 

" Water bailiff. — The second bailiff is, as I understand, 
called the water bailiff. He has the charge of the silver 
oar ; and bv himself or his officer attends with it on exe- 
cuting; any process within the admiralty jurisdiction of the 
corporation. One guinea is the fee for the use of the silver 
oar ; and in civil cases the expense of the boat is always 
charged to the plaintiff in the action. It is the business 
also of the water bailiff' to superintend the oyster fishery, 
and the other fisheries of the corporation. Besides the fees 
for the use of the silver oar, he has a bushel of corn and 
a toll of fish, the same in each case as what is taken by the 
mayor. 

" Coroners. — Two coroners arc chosen annually from 
the burgesses, on the charter day, by the body there 
assembled. They have exclusive jurisdiction within the 
town and county of Poole. They receive the usual fees 
which belong to the office of coroner. 

" Constables of the staple. — Tw t o constables of the staple 
are chosen at the same time and by the same bodv. They 
have no duties, salary, or emoluments. 

" Key-keepers. — The mayor and justices are annually 
elected key-keepers, and overseers of the new alms-houses; 
but no duties or emoluments are attached to either of these 
offices. 

" Constables. — Two constables are chosen by the body 
en the charter-day, and two other constables are 
annually at the Easter sessions. One of the latter is 

a salary of £10 a year from the 
corporation. Th ral fees 



222 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

" Sergeants at mace. — Two Serjeants at mace are ap- 
pointed by the major and aldermen, and continue in office 
during- the pleasure of the same body. They are the 
bailiffs of the weekly court of record, and execute the 
process of that court. They are the sheriff's officers for 
the town and county of Poole ; and one or other of them 
acts as crier at the court of quarter sessions. They receive 
a salary of £10 a year each, besides their fees. 

" Crier. Hay-ward. — The crier, who has been generally, 
but not always, also hayward, is appointed by the mayor, 
and receives one guinea a year from the corporation. 

" Corn meters. — A certain number of corn meters, as 
many as may be thought necessary, are annually appointed 
by the corporate body. There are now four or five. They 
are paid by the merchants employing them, and not by the 
corporation ; the rate of payment is a halfpenny per quar- 
ter, imperial measure. It is understood to be compulsory 
to employ thern^. 

" Quay treasurer. Quay and harbour master. — Under 
a local act, 29th Geo. III., [II.] the corporation are sole 
trustees for the management of the quay and harbour of 
Poole, and, in that capacity, appoint a treasurer, and a 
quay, harbour, and ballast master. The latter office was, 
for some time, divided into two, and there was a ballast 
master as well as a quay and harbour master ; but there is 
now a single officer only appointed-}". His appointment is a 
permanent onej. The treasurer is always one of the bur- 
gesses. The quay master collects all the dues, and after 



The right of the corporation to appoint a measurer of corn, salt, coals, &c, was 
disputed in 1!J02, by the lord high admiral ; but the right was affirmed. In an entry in 
tin- records, dated Sept. 17, 1(502, the mayor is ordered to be indemnified "for his 
expenses and chardges of a suite in the admiral tie courte betweene the lo' admirall 
& the towne in the defense of the towne's right for the mesuringe of salt, coles, & 
other thinges, &c." 

+ The offices have been again separated since the issue of the commissioner's 
repoit. 

f By the provisions oi the act [sec, l aU the officers appointed wider it are remov- 
b.v .,, pleasure. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 223 

paying the labourers and the small expenses incurred on 
the quay and in the harbour, pays over the balance to the 
treasurer at the end of every month. The treasurer dis- 
burses all other outgoings, and makes up his account in 
June every year. The act allows to these officers salaries 
not exceeding 10 per cent, on the gross proceeds. Of this 
allowance the treasurer receives nothing 1 : the whole is 
given to the quav master. 

" COURTS. 

" The courts held within the town and county of Poole 
are, a court of quarter sessions, a court of record, a court 
of admiralty, the monthly court of the sheriff, and the 
sheriff's tourn. 

" Quarter sessions, — The sessions are held four times a 
year, before the mayor, recorder, or his deputy, and the 
justices : either the mayor or recorder must be present. 
This court has exclusive jurisdiction over all cases arising 
in the town and county of Poole, and which, if it were not 
a county of itself, would be cognizable by the justices of 
the county of Dorset. Capital cases are thought to be tri- 
able at the sessions ; and there is said to be an old instance 
of a murder having been tried before the mayor. At the 
present day, it does not appear that any capital felonies are 
tried at the sessions^. The number of felonies tried there 



* The jurisdiction of the old court of quarter session in cases of capital felony has 
been seldom exercised. An instance, however, occurs in the time of the commonwealth. 
At the sessions holden March 28, 1654, a woman named Pearce, was convicted of 
murdering her illegitimate child, and condemned to be hanged. The warrant for the 
execution is still extant, signed by the mayor, recorder, and two justices. But, until 
late years, on the occurrence of any case of capital felony in the borough, the prac- 
tice was that one of the judges of assize on the western circuit attended at Poole for 
the purpose of trying it. Poole being included in the commission issued for that 
circuit, no separate commission was necessary on that account. Amongst the 
instances of such courts are the following : — 

In 1703 ; when the subjoined memorandum occurs in the record book. — "On the 
:5th day of July in ye year 1703, judge Powell was hear vpon the tryall of one Rich- 
ard Mullenton, for stabbing of one Sing Goodman, whereof he died : but Mullcnton 
was cpietted, by reason he stabbed him in his own diffence. 

li. s. d. 

"The clarke of the sizes fee was 10 

" The marshall's fee was 2 

" The Clarke's man's fee was 2 

" The cryer of the court •.' 



224 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

in the course of the year are from six to eight, and the 
same is about the number of misdemeanours. 

" Court of record. — A court of record is held before the 
mayor and senior bailiff, on Thursday in every week, 
having- unlimited jurisdiction in all causes, real, personal, 
or mixed. The practice and proceedings in this court are 
analogous to those of the superior courts. The writ to 
brin^ in the defendant is tested by the mayor and senior 
bailiff, and is generally signed by the mayor, under the 
seal of the corporation. It is returnable the next court 
day ; bail is put in before the mayor ; and it is the practice 
that the plaintiff should either declare immediately, or ask 
for time to declare. The pleadings are filed in the pro- 
thonotary's office, and are entered short in a book which is 
kept there. Writs of enquiry are not directed to the sheriff, 
but are executed before the court. There is no table of 
fees ; their amount is regulated bv what is understood to 



" They demanded 191i, ; but after they weave gone away we vnderstood that my 
lord ordered them to take but lOli. in all : soe that we paid 61i. in the towne's wronge : 
and sence do understand that att Southampton neuer any thing was paid on such an 
occation." 

Again, — "on the 21st of July, 1743, Thomas Hussey, esq., serjeant at law, being 
appointed by his majesty's commission one of the judges for the western circuit, 
came to this towne and county to try Elizabeth and Julian Wantner, the first for bur- 
glariously stealing nine guineas from Henry Gould, of this town and county, baker, 
the other for receiving part of the same knowing them to have been stolen, who, by 
the clemency of the jury, were both acquitted. 

"Then paid the fees to the several officers as undermentioned, viz : — 

" To the clerk of the assizes £5 5 

" To the marshall 2 2 

"Tothecryer 2 2 

"To the judge's clerk 110 

10 10 

" At the which time was tried a cause — the king against William Barfoot and Chris- 
topher Jolliffe, who were indicted for a nuisance, by sinking in the channel, just 
above the quay head, the hull of a Dutch ship, which had been stranded in the hooe, 
near the harbour's mouth ; which indictment they had removed by certiorari, and 
were brought to trial and found guilty of the said nuisance." 

In 1781, March 15, the judges of assize held a court in Poole. 

In 1788, July 10, judge Buller held the assize in Poole, when Ursula Blake was 
tried, charged with the murder of her illegitimate child, and was acquitted : and a 
man was tried for stealing a part of a hawser, found guilty, and whipped. 

About 1791, also, the assize was held in Poole, for the purpose of trying a man 
named Okeman, on a charge of having murdered his wife and step-mother. The 
prisoner was acquitted on the ground of insanity. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 225 

have been usual in former times. The costs are taxed by 
the prothonotary. In case of a judgment by default in 
debt, the costs are about £6 ; and this sum appears to be 
the minimum in any case of action carried to final judg- 
ment and execution. If the form of action were different, 
and it were necessary that a writ of enquiry should be 
executed, £3 or £4 would be added to the previous costs. 
The taxed costs in an ordinary action of assumpsit which is 
tried, and in which counsel are employed on both sides, 
are from £26 to £28. The number of writs issued in this 
court in the course of the year, vary very much in different 
years. They are occasionally very few; in other years 
above fifty; and in some approaching to a hundred. Trials 
are not verv frequent : two took place about three years 
ago ; and two occurred a week before my visit to Poole." 

" Court of admiralty. — The court of admiralty is now 
held at an interval of several years. The last was in 1827 ; 
the previous one in 1821. This court is held by the mayor 
as admiral, and a jury is impannelled, consisting usually 
of old shipmasters and pilots, who generally perambulate 
the bounds of the harbour, and ascertain the marks which 
limit the jurisdiction." 

" County court. — The sheriff holds his monthly county 
court whenever it is necessary ; and he also holds an annual 
court called his tourn, at which a jury is impannelled to 
examine weights and measures in the town. 

" Juries. — The juries summoned to the sessions, grand 
and petty, consist of 24 each. The town clerk makes out 
the lists for the sheriff, who summons them by the Serjeants 
at mace. There is no such list made out for juries when 
wanted in the court of record ; but the Serjeants at mace 
usually select whom they please." 

"REVENUE. 

" The income of the corporation is derived from the 

rents of houses and lands ; the profits of markets and fairs ; 

fines on the admission of burgesses ; and the interest of 

monv lent. 

2G 



226 MUNICIPAL HISTORY, 

" Houses and lands, — A considerable part of the pro- 
perty in houses and lands belonging to the corporation is 
let upon long' terms of years. There are six leases of 1000 
or 909 years, the oldest of which commenced in 1724 ; the 
rents reserved upon them amount to £20 lis. Two leases 
of 199 years, one beginning" to run in 1764, the other in 
1767, produce a rent of £8 10s, a year. There are twelve 
for 99 years, renewable for ever, the earliest of them in 
1789; reserved rents, £36 8s, 6|d. Four for 99 and one 
for 88 years, the earliest in 1777, the latest in 1832 ; rents 
£9. Four for 99 years, determinable on three lives, two 
of them renewable for ever ; rents £10 5s. Of the 
remaining 1 leases, one for 31 years, rent £5 ; seven for 21 
years, rents £231 2s. 6d ; one for 14 years, rent £15 ; nine 
for 7 years, rents £211. The above rents include the tithe 
allotment, £39 12s. 6d., but not the tithes themselves. 
Their total amount, deducting the rent of the tithe allot* 
ment, is £552 4s. 6±d,"^ 

" The fines on renewal of leases have been so trifling 
that they hardly deserve to be taken into the account in 
computing" the average income of the corporation. 

" Markets and fairs, — The whole of the profits of the 
markets and fairs, except the fish market, have been let by 
auction for £250 a year ; the fish market is let separately 
at £5 a year. 

" Fines on admission of burgesses, — A large revenue 
has arisen in times past from the fines paid for admission 
into the corporation. In 1830, 92 burgesses were made, 
many of them minors of all ages ; a fine of £25 was paid 
by each individual. The whole of this fund w r as expended 
in the years 1830, 1831, and 1832, in the improvement of 
the town." 

" Interest of money, — A sum of £300 was lent some 
years ago by the corporation to the scavengers, and a pay- 



* The above rents do not amount to the stated total. The statement of the learned, 
commissioner has, however, been implicitly followed. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 227 

merit of £15, as interest on this loan, is annually made to 
the corporate fund by the surveyors of the highways. 

" Expenditure* — The above income is received by the 
mayor, and by him applied to the following purposes : 
salary of an organist, salaries and expenses of officers, town 
clerk's bill, entertainments, interest of debt, works, repairs 
and improvements, the sheriff's quietus, and other 
miscellaneous matters* The salary to the organist is a 
perpetual charge upon the corporation, a sum of money, 
which is now sunk in the general corporate fund, having 
been given for the purpose. 

" Debt.— The total debt of the corporation is £3,531 ; 
namely, — 

£1,400 borrowed from the quay fund, at 4 ^ cent. 

831 charged on the tithes at 5 „ 

1,300 in three mortgages, at 5 „ 

" The total amount of yearly interest is £162 lls«" 

" The accounts of the general fund are kept by the 
mayor, and are made up to September. The receipts and 
expenditure are accounted for to the corporation at large 
yearly, at a special meeting convened for the express pur- 
pose of auditing the mayor's accounts*"^ 

Such was the constitution and condition of the corpora- 
tion of Poole, when the " act to provide for the regulation 
of municipal corporations in England and Wales," [5th & 
6th Win, IV*, c. 76,] received the royal assent, 9th Sept., 
1835, This act effected a sudden and entire change in the 
constitution of nearly all the corporate bodies in the king- 
dom, sweeping away all charters inconsistent with its pro- 
visions, and establishing a new and uniform principle of 
municipal government. The alterations effected by the 



* By "a rentall of the rents and revenues belonging to the incorporation of the 
towne and county of Poole, the 23rd January, a.d. 1G48-9," it appears that the reve- 
nues of the corporation then amounted to £79 6s. 2d. Amongst the sources of 
revenue are " key age and cartage," valued at £'15 per annum; and "the allowance 
out of the three bruehouses in former times were computed to be worth aboute a 
matter of £30 per annum." 



228 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

act in the borough of Poole were very extensive, and may 
be thus succinctly given. 

Limits. — The boundaries of the borough are declared to 
be those settled by the general boundary act, consequent 
upon the parliamentary reform act [2nd & 3rd Win. IV., 
c. 64], thus comprising the whole of the hamlets of Park- 
stone and Longfleet, and the parish of Hamworthv, in 
addition to the old town and county. This out-district 
accordingly became invested with all the exempt county 
and municipal privileges formerly exclusively attached to 
the more confined territory of the old borough. 

The borough was directed by the act to be divided into 
two wards, and this division was made bv the barristers 
appointed for that purpose, and approved by his majesty in 
council, as follows: — 1st, the north-west ward, comprising" 
that portion of the parish of St. James, to the north-west 
of the middle of high street, together with the tithing- of 
Parkstone ; — and 2nd, the south-east ward, comprising" that 
part of the parish of St. James, to the south-east of the 
middle of high street, together with the tithing" of Longfleet, 
and the parish of Hamworthy. 

Style and constitution. — The style and title of the new 
incorporation is " the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses" of 
the borough. The groundwork of the corporate body is 
the establishment of a burgess constituency, of an uniform 
description, in all the boroughs ; and the following com- 
bined requisites are necessary to the acquiring" of the new 
burgess right : — 

1 . Being" a male of full age. 

2. An occupancy, on the last day of August in any 
year, of any house, warehouse, countinghouse, or shop, 
within the borough, being an occupancy which has existed 
during the whole of that year, and during the whole of the 
two preceding years. 

3. Being" an inhabitant householder within the borough, 
or within seven miles of the borough, during the specified 
time. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 22J* 

4. Being rated to all poor rates in respect of the premises 
so occupied, during the whole of the specified time. 

5. Payment of all such poor rates, and of all borough 
rates, if any, directed by the act to be paid by the claimant 
of burgess-ship, except such poor and borough rates have 
become payable in respect of the rated premises within six 
calendar months before the said last day of August. 

6. Enrolment on the burgess list through the machinery 
of registration provided by the act. 

Governing body, — The government of the borough is 
entrusted to a council, composed, when full, of a mayor, 
six aldermen, and eighteen councillors. 

The councillors are to be chosen, nine from each ward, 
by the burgesses of the respective wards. They continue 
in office for three years, one-third part of the whole num- 
ber going out of office on the 1st of November in each 
year. Thus an election for three councillors in each ward 
takes place annually. The qualification required is, that 
the person elected a councillor shall be entitled to be on 
the burgess list of the borough, and, at the same time, 
possessed of real or personal estate in the borough, to the 
amount of £500, or rated to the relief of the poor, upon 
the annual value of £15. In addition to the customary 
disqualifications, are those of being in holy orders, or a 
regular minister of a dissenting congregation, and the 
holding of any office or place of profit, other than that of 
mayor, in the gift of the corporation, or having any interest, 
directly or indirectly, in any contract or employment, with 
or from the council. 

The aldermen are to be elected by the councillors, from 
themselves or from the persons qualified to be councillors, 
They continue in office for six years, one-half of the num- 
ber going out of office on the 9th of November in every 
third year, commencing from 1838, 1841, &c. 

The mayor is to be elected every year by the council, 
out of the aldermen or councillors. 



236 MtfNiCTPAl HISTORY. 

The council, so composed* is invested with very impor- 
tant functions, and with extensive powers. They have the 
management and disposition of the borough fund; — by 
ihem the corporate officers are to be appointed; — they 
may appoint, out of their ovvn body, committees either of a 
general or special nature ;— they are directed to nominate 
a watch committee, who have the controUl of the police; — 
they are empowered to act as trustees, where the body 
corporate are sole trustees ; — in them is vested the requisite 
powers for lighting the borough ; — they have authority to 
make bye laws ; — they may order a borough rate, in case 
of insufficiency of the borough fund to meet the estimated 
expenses ; — and they possess divers other powers of muni- 
cipal government. 

Officers. — The officers of the new corporation are the 
mayor, sheriff, recorder, justices of the peace, coroner, two 
auditors, four assessors, a treasurer, town clerk and clerk 
of the peace, and registrar of the court of record. 

The mayor, who is the president of the council, has to 
sit, with the assessors, in the court for revising the burgess 
lists; and he has also to preside, with the assessors, at the 
election of councillors. He is justice of the peace ex 
officio, and continues so for the year following that of his 
mayoralty, and is to have precedence in the borough. 
Notices of meetings of the council are to be signed by him. 
He is authorised to open and adjourn the court of quarter 
session, in the absence of the recorder. The council are 
empowered to appoint a salary for the mayor. 

A sheriff is retained to Poole, it being a county corpo- 
rate. He is appointed by the council, and his duties are 
the same as before the alteration. 

The recorder is appointed by the king, to hold his office 
during good behaviour. He is a justice of the peace for 
the borough ex officio, and has precedence next after the 
mayor. lie is the solo judge at i\\e quarter session of the 
pence, as well as of the weekly court of record. He has a 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 231 

salary, fixed bv the council at £50 per annum, paid out of 
the borough fund. He is precluded from being" a member 
for the borough, an alderman, councillor, or police magis- 
trate. He is empowered to appoint a deputy, in case of 
sickness or unavoidable absence. 

The justices of the peace are appointed in a separate 
commission of the peace, issued by the king. In addition 
to the magistrates appointed for life, the mayor is, ex 
officio, a justice during the year of his mayoralty and du- 
ring the succeeding year; and the recorder is also a justice 
ex officio. No qualification by estate is requisite for the 
office ; but each justice must be resident within seven 
miles. The justices are prohibited from officiating at any 
court of gaol delivery or quarter session, 

A coroner is also preserved to the borough, as it has a 
court of quarter session granted to it. His appointment is 
by the council, the office being held during good behaviour. 
The person chosen coroner must not be an alderman or 
councillor. He is to receive the same fees as coroners in 
counties. 

Two auditors are to be annually elected by the burgesses, 
on the 1st of March, in the mode prescribed by the act, 
each burgess voting for one candidate only. Their qualU 
ficafion is the same as that for councillors ; but no coun- 
cillor, town clerk, or treasurer, is eligible as auditor. Their 
duty is to examine the treasurer's accounts, on the first of 
March and the first of September in each year, and, if 
correct, to sign the same. 

Two assessors are chosen in each ward, by the burgesses, 
from those who are qualified as councillors ; each burgees 
voting for one candidate only. No treasurer, town clerk, 
or councillor, is eligible as assessor. They have to be 
present at the election of councillors in their respective 
wards, and, with the mayor, are to ascertain the result of 
the elections. The assessors of the mayor's ward are also, 
in conjunction with the mayor, to revise the burgess lists. 



232 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

The treasurer is appointed by the council, of which he is 
not to be a member. He lias the charge of the borough 
fund, and must pay no money except upon order in writing* 
of council, or as is provided by the act. He is to submit 
his accounts when required by the council, and to keep an 
account of receipts and disbursements, &c, to be open 
to the inspection of the aldermen and councillors : and 
he submits his accounts, with vouchers, to the auditors, on 
the 1st of March and the 1st of September, in each year, 
causing an abstract thereof to be annually printed in 
September. 

The town clerk, in addition to his other duties, has to 
attend to the annual registration of the burgesses. As 
clerk of the peace, he is prohibited from being clerk to the 
magistrates. 

The registrar of the court of record has the same func- 
tions as before. 

The magistrates' clerk is appointed by the justices. He 
must not be clerk of the peace, alderman, or councillor. 

Courts. — The court of quarter session is holden by virtue 
of the royal grant, petitioned for by council, in accordance 
with the act. The recorder is the sole judge of the court ; 
but in his absence, the mayor has the power of opening 
and adjourning the court. It has no capital jurisdiction, 
its powers being the same as those of county courts of 
quarter session. Capital charges must be sent to the 
assizes for trial. The jurors, both grand and petit, are 
taken from the burgesses, if otherwise qualified ; they are 
summoned by the clerk of the peace, and are liable to 
a penalty for non-attendance ; but no juror can be com- 
pelled to serve oftener than once a year. The members of 
the council and officers are exempt from serving as jurors. 

The court of record may still be held, with the same 
jurisdiction as before. The recorder is the sole judge 
in it. The sheriff's courts continue as before. The court 
of admiralty is abolished. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 233 

Registration. — The mere possession of the requisite 
qualification is not enough to constitute a burgess under 
the act, unless all the forms of the registration have been 
complied with. The course of registration being invariable 
in all the boroughs in the kingdom affected by the act, a 
detail of it here does not become essential. 

The first election of councillors under the act took place 
Dec. 26, 1835, when, after a severe contest, the following 
were declared elected : — 

For the north-west ward; — Robert Slade, George 
Welch Ledgard, Robert Slade, sen., Robert Slade, jun., 
George Holland, John Adey, William Adey, Samuel Clark, 
Thomas Slade, jun. 

For the south-east ward; — William Green, Richard 
Pinney, Robert Major, Richard Stanworth, George Lock- 
yer Parrott, Tom Rickman, George Ledgard, Francis 
Timewell Rogers, Tito Durell Hodges. 

On Dec. 31, the following were elected the first alder- 
men under the act; — Robert Slade, David Osmond Lander, 
Thomas Gaden, George Hancock, George Ledgard, Joseph 
Barter Bloomfield. 

On Jan. 1, 1836, Robert Slade, jun., was elected mayor, 
and Thomas Gregory Hancock, sheriff; the other offices 
were also filled up, and the new municipal system was 
brought into operation. 

Proceedings in the court of king's bench were shortly 

afterwards commenced against Mr. R. Major, and Mr. G. 

Ledgard, by informations in the nature of a quo warranto, 

calling on them to shew by what authority they exercised 

the office of town councillor. The informants alleged 

irregularity at the election and a fraudulent return, as the 

ground of their proceedings. The case was heard at the 

Dorset summer assize, 1836, before Mr. justice Alderson 

and a special jury, when a verdict was taken for the crown, 

subject to the decision of the judges on several reserved 

legal points. Judgment not having been yet moved for, 

the case still stands for argument. 

2 11 



234 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

Whilst this matter was in the courts of law, collateral 
proceedings were taken to effect the removal of the coun- 
cillors objected to, by means of parliamentary enactment. 
A petition was presented to the house of commons, Feb. 
17, praying that the election of councillors, and all their 
proceedings, might be set aside, and a new election had. 
On the 2nd of March, a select committee of the house was 
appointed " to enquire into the circumstances connected 
with the election of councillors for the borough of Poole." 
After a long investigation, the committee reported to the 
house on the 25th of the same month, when a bill to 
avoid the election of councillors and to annul all their 
official transactions, was brought in. Repeated delays 
having taken place, the bill did not pass the house 
until the 27th July. It was then read a first time in the 
house of lords ; but, Aug. 3, on a motion for the second 
reading, the bill was rejected by their lordships as dan^ 
gerous and unconstitutional. 

The introduction of the new municipal system has pro- 
duced in the borough of Poole a state of party hostility, 
unparalielled in its rancour by any acerbity of conflict- 
ing feeling which the previous history of the town has 
developed. It would be a melancholy task to dwell upon 
the evils necessarily resulting from such a state of things. 
Whether the new system of municipal administration 
contain any essential advantages that may practically prove 
an adequate compensation for such evils; and whether 
such extreme of party rancour be the mere temporary effer- 
vescence of popular feeling-, consequent on the acquirement 
of a novel franchise, are questions to which time will give 
the most satisfactory solution. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY* 



LIST OF MAYORS. 



1422.— Walter Hodde.* 


1518. — John Stocker. 


***** 


19. — Richard Havyland. 


1437. — John Lypeman. 


1520. — John Havyland. 


***** 


21. — John Bydylcome. 


1461.— John Eweline. 


22.— Luke Martyn. 


***** 


23.— William Havyland. 


1472. — Richard Baker. 


24.— John Ellys. 


***** 


25. — William Mesurer. 


1483.— John Nanbye-. 


26. — John Havyland. 


***** 


27.— JohnCroker, 


1490. — John Norton. 


28. — Davy Greene. 


91.— The same. 


29-. — Richard Havyland. 


92.— Stephen Jordyn. 


1530. — William Bitelcome. 


93.— John Bedford. 


31. — Thomas Whyte. 


94. — James Havyland. 


32.— John Ellys, 


95. — John Aleyn. 


33. — William Havyland. 


96.— John Norton. 


34. — John Havyland. 


97. — Robert Jordan. 


35. — William Mesurer. 


98. — James Havyland. 


36. — William Bitelcome. 


99.— John Bedford, 


37. — Richard Havyland. 


1500.— Pfcter Dyker. 


38.— Thomas Whyte. 


1. — John Norton. 


39.— John Mann. 


2. — James Havyland. 


1540. — John Northerell. 


3. — John Bedford- 


41.— John Ellys. 


4.— Thomas Whyte. 


42. — Richard Awstyn. 


5. — William Mesurer. 


43. — William Bydelcome 


6. — James Havyland. 


44. — William Havyland. 


7. — Peter Dyker. 


45. — Thomas Whyte. 


8. — William Mesurer. 


46.— Thomas Culleford. 


9. — John Bedford. 


47. — John Northerell. 


1510.— Thomas Whyte. 


48. — Morgan Rede. 


.11. — The same. 


49. — John Mann. 


12. — Richard Havyland. 


1550. — Robert Rogers. 


13. — John Stocker. 


51.— Thomas Whyte. 


14. — John Havyland. 


52.— John Northerell. 


15. — William Bitelcome. 


53.— John Davy. 


16. — William Mesurer. 


54. — William Newman. 


17. — Thomas Whyte. 


55. — Thomas Byngley. 



* This is the first name that can now be traced. It occurs in a grant of land to the 
seneschals of the fraternity of St. George, made in the presence of the mayor and 
several others. 



236 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 



1556. — John Mann. 


1595. — John Beryman* 


e-y C John Croke. 

( John Scry ven*. 


96.— William Levytt. 


97. — John Bramble. 


58. — John Mann. 


98. — Thomas Fraunces. 


59. — Richard Goddarde* 


99.— Thomas Robarts. 


1560. — William Greene* 


1600.— Roger Mawdley. 


61. — The same. 


1. — William Bramble* 


62.— The same. 


2.— John Berryman. 


63. — William Byngley. 


3. — John Veyson. 


64. — William Greene. 


4. — Thomas Fraunces* 


65. — William Constantyne* 


5. — William Levytt. 


66. — The same. 


6. — Thomas Robarts. 


67.— The same. 


7.— William Hill. 


68. — William Newman. 


8. — John Lambard. 


gq 5 Christopher Havylande* 

I William Constantyne. 


9. — Roger Mawdley. 


1610.— Robert Polden. 


1570. — Christopher Rose. 


11. — John Veyson. 


71. — William Grene. 


12. — William Jorden. 


72. — John Rogers* 


13. — John Bramble. 


73. — John Hancocke. 


14.— William Hill. 


74. — Peter Gaydon. 


15. — John Harward. 


75. — William Newman. 


16. — Thomas Fraunces. 


76.— Peter Coxe. 


17. — Thomas Robarts. 


77.— Michel Daye* 


18. — John Lambard. 


78. — William Bydelcom. 


19. — George Dackombe* 


79.— William Dicker. 


1620.— John Veyson. 


1580.— Robert Nyclys. 


21.— George Skutt. 


81.— Christopher Farewell* 


22.— John Bramble* 


82.— John Bremble. 


23.— William Hill* 


83. — John Rogers. 


24.— John Harward. 


84. — William Bedelcom. 


25.— Thomas Frauncis. 


85. — Christopher Farewell. 


26. — John Melmouth. 


86.— John Field. 


<yj ___ S Christopher Ancketill 
C Thomas Robartes. 


87. — John Beryman. 


88. — Roger Mawdley. 


28.— The same. 


89.— Edward Man. 


29.— William Dolbery. 


1590.— John Bramble. , 


1630. — Thomas Smedmore. 


91. — Richard Edwards* 


31.— George Skutt. 


92.— William Dicker. 


32.— John Harward* 


93.— William Pytt. 


33. — Thomas Fraunces. 


94. — Roger Mawdley. 


34. — John Melmoth* 



* Scryven's name occurs in the latter portion of this mayoralty. Croke probably 
died before bis year had expired. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 



237 



1635.- 


f Shadrach Gibbon* 
i George Skutt*. 


1661.- 


—Richard Dolbery. 




62.- 


-Peter Hiley+. 


36.- 


—Anthony Wayte. 


63.- 


— Ed-ward Man. 


37.- 


—John Harvard. 


64.- 


-Peter Hall. 


38.- 


—William Williams. 


65.- 


—Stephen Street]]. 


39.- 


—Aaron Durell. 


66.- 


—Moses Durell. 


1640.- 


—Richard Mayer. 


67.- 


—Robert Cleeves. 


41.- 


— Haviland Hiley. 


68.- 


—William Orchard. 


42.- 


—Henry Harbin. 


69.- 


—Peter Hiley. 


43.- 


—Robert Giearf. 


1670.- 


—John Carter. 


44.- 


—George Skutt. 


71.- 


-Peter Hall. 


45.- 


—Aaron Durell. 


72- 


-Nicholas Efford. 


46.- 


-William Skutt. 


73.- 


—John Willie. 


47.- 


—Richard Mayer. 


74.- 


—William Orchard. 


48.- 


—Henry Hardinge. 


75.- 


—The same. 


49.- 


—Haviland Hiley. 


76.- 


—John Carter. 


1650.- 


—William Williams. 


77.- 


-AUen Skutt. 


51.- 


— Richard Dolbery. 


78.- 


—Moses DurelL 


52.- 


—George Skutt. 


79.- 


—Nicholas Efford. 


53.- 


—Moses Durell. 


1680.- 


—William Street. 


54. 


—Laurence Gigger. 


81.- 


—James Trew. 


55. 


—Peter Hall. 


82.- 


—James Hallybread. 


56.- 


—John Powell. 


83.- 


—The same. 


57. 


—William Skutt. 


84- 


-5 — 6 — 7§. 


53. 


— Robert Cleeves. 


88.- 


—James Hallybread. 


59. 


— Edward Taylor. 


89. 


—William Phillips. 


1660. 


—Haviland Hiley. 


1690. 


—Henry Jubber. 



* Gibbon died in the year of his mayoralty, and Skutt was chosen to succeed him 
May 19, 1636. 

t In an old book in the corporation archives it is said that Mr. Robert Giear was 
the mayor elect this year, but not sworn. The other officers also, though elected, 
were not sworn. Harbin, the ex-mayor, was apprehended and sent to London, on 
suspicion of a design to deliver the town to the royalist forces. 

i Stephen Street had been nominated this year by the commissioners, under the 
act for regulating corporations, but their nomination was rejected by the corporation, 
who chose Hiley. 

J! William Skutt had, on the election-day, been nominated to the office of mayor 
by king Charles II., then on a visit to the town ; but he never officiated, and Street 
was chosen to the office in the customary manner. 

\ During these years, the privileges aud franchises of the borough having been 
taken away by judgment on quo warranto, the customary elections did not take place. 
John Wyndham, of Salisbury, was appointed mayor by commission, and Allen Skutt 
acted under him, having been appointed deputy mayor by commission. On the 
grant oj the charter of restoration, James Hallybread again assumed the functions of 
mavor. 



238 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY* 



1691.- 


— Shadrach Beall. 


1725.- 


— Timothy Spurrier. 


92.- 


—Moses Durell. 


26.- 


— Benjamin Skutt. 


93.- 


—William Pike. 


27.- 


—The samef. 


94.- 


—Thomas Smithi 


28.- 


—John Strong. 


95.- 


—Peter Hiley. 


29.- 


—John Thomas. 


96.- 


—Thomas Hyde. 


1730.- 


—Timothy Spurrier. 


97.- 


—William Phipard; 


31.- 


—The same. 


98.- 


—Joseph Wadhanii 


32.- 


—Peter JolliiT. 


99.- 


—John Carter. 


33.- 


— Robert Wadham. 


1700.- 


-William Williams. 


34.- 


—The same. 


1.- 


—Dennis Smith. 


35.- 


—The same. 


2.- 


—William Bremhle. 


36.- 


—Michael Francklin 


3.- 


—William Phipard. 


37.- 


—The same* 


4.- 


—The same. 


38. 


—The, same. 


5.- 


—John Carter. 


39.- 


—Robert Henning. 


6.- 


—George Lewen. 


1740. 


—The same. 


7.- 


—The same. 


41.- 


— The same. 


8.- 


—The same. 


42. 


—Benjamin Skutt. 


9.- 


-William Skutt*. 


43.- 


—The same. 


1710.- 


—Samuel Weston. 


44.- 


—John Lester. 


11.- 


—The same. 


45.- 


—William Wise. 


12.- 


—William Cock. 


46.- 


—William Williams. 


13.- 


—John Jennings. 


47.- 


— Timothy Spurrier. 


14.- 


—James Wise. 


48.- 


—John Masters^ 


15.- 


—William Skinner. 


49.- 


—David DurelL 


16.- 


—John Lester. 


1750.- 


—Joseph Bowles. 


17.- 


—Benjamin Skutt. 


51- 


-Timothy Spurrier. 


18.- 


—The same. 


52- 


-John Masters;. 


19.- 


—William Weston. 


53. 


—Aaron Durell||. 


1720.- 


—Francis Lester. 


54.- 


-William Jolliff. 


21.- 


—William Cleeves. 


55. 


— George Tito. 


22.- 


—Timothy Spurrier. 


56.- 


—Aaron Durell. 


23.- 


—Richard Weston. 


57.- 


—George Hyde. 


24.- 


—John Phippard. 


58.- 


-William Jolliff. 



* Robert Bennett was eleeted this year, but dying before he was sworn, Skutt was 
chosen in his room. 

■i Proceedings were this year taken on a quo warranto, with the view of displacing 
Skutt, he having been elected in opposition to some custom connected with the 
nomination system. The proceedings, however, appear to have been relinquished, 
and he continued to exercise the duties of the office. 

X Proceedings on a quo warranto were taken against Masters, on the ground that he 
had not previously served the office of sheriff; but these were abandoned. 

|| At the election this year, George Hyde was chosen on the nomination system, 
and Aaron Durell by a majority of the burgesses at large. Durell undertook the 
execution of the ofliee, and proceedings on a quo warranto were taken against him; 
but a compromise being effected, he continued in the office. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 



230 



,-tg $ Spenee Young. 

1 William Wise*. 


1796.— Thomas Street. 


97. — Joseph Garland, 


1760. — George "Weston. 


98.— John Jeffery. 


61. — The same. 


99.— Thomas Street. 


62. — The same. 


1800. — James Seager. 


63. — John Henning. 


1. — John Lester. 


61.— Thomas Hyde, 


2.-r-William Spurrier, 


65. — Thomas Strong. 


3.— Mark Street. 


66. — Samuel Weston. 


4. — The same. 


67. — John Green. 


5.— John Strong. 


68.— Peter Jolliff. 


6. — The same. 


69. — John Skinner. 


7. — Young West. 


1770. — The same. 


8. — John Strong. 


71.— George Tito. 


9.— The samef. 


72.— John Bird. 


1810,— George Garland. 


73.— The same. 


11.— Peter Jolliff. 


74. — The same. 


12.— Samuel Clark. 


75. — Samuel Bowden. 


13. — The same. 


76. — John Bird. 


14. — Samuel Weston. 


77. — The same. 


15. — Benjamin Lester Lester. 


78. — George Olive, 


16. — James Seager. 


79. — Benjamin Lester. 


17. — The same. 


1780.— Christopher Jolliff. 


18.— Joseph White Orchard. 


81.— Benjamin Lester, 


19. — Joseph Garland, j\m. 


82.— The same. 


1820. — George Welch Ledgard. 


83.— The same. 


21. — The same. 


84. — William Spurrier, 


22.— The same, 


85. — Joseph Olive. 


23.— Joseph White Orchard. 


86. — William Spurrier. 


24. — John Bingley Garland. 


87WThe same. 


25. — David Osmond Lander. 


• i -.— George Garland. 


26. — George Welch Ledgard. 


89. — John Lester. 


27. — Joseph Garland. 


1790.— The same. 


28.— William Jolliff. 


91. — The same. 


29. — The same. 


92. — The same. 


1830.— Joseph Gulston Garland. 


93. — The same. 


31. — George Welch Ledgard. 


94. — The same. 


o 9 S Robert Slade. 
1 Robert Slade.]:. 


95. — The same. 



* Young died March 1, in his year of office, and Wise was chosen in his stead, 

+ Down to this year the nomination system generally prevailed in the election of 
mayor : but a quo warranto being now filed against Mr. Strong, to bring the disputes 
on this point to issue, the case was heard at the Dorset summer assize, 1810, when a 
verdict for the crown was returned, thus abolishing the practice. 

$ The Robert Slade first named died before his year of mayoralty had expired, and 
he was succeeded by his cousin of the same name. 



240 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

1833.— The same. | 1835-6.— Robert Slade, jun* 

34.— The same. 36.— Robert Slade. 



LIST OF RECORDERS. 

Giles Escourt, esq., appears in the documents of the 
borough as the earliest recorder. We find him named as 
such in 1582. 

Richard Swayne, esq., first signs as recorder, Sep. 14, 
1592. He resigned the office after having held it nearly 
half a century, Sep. 16, 1636, and was succeeded by his 
nephew, 

Ellis Swayne, esq. 

William Constantine, esq., of Merly, was appointed 
Dec. 10, 1639-f-. He was displaced by the house of 
commons, Sep. 4, 1643. 



* No election took place in the year 1835, on the day appointed by the charter, the 
municipal corporations' regulation act having abrogated the ancient mode of election, 
and provided that the mayor in office at the time of the passing of that act, should 
continue to execute the duties of such office until Jan. 1, 1836, on which day Mr. R. 
Slade, jun., was chosen by the council under the new system. 

i William Constantine, esq., of Merly, was born 1612, of an ancient and respectable 
family, long connected with the borough of Toole, and then settled at Merly, about 
five miles distant. He was bred to the law and educated at the middle temple, to 
which he was chosen reader. He was admitted a burgess of Poole, Sep. 16, 1631, and 
appointed to the recordership of that borough Dec. 10, 1639. Sent to the house of 
commons, as one of the representatives of the same borough, in the parliaments of 
15 and 16 Charles I., he espoused the cause of the monarchy, and, in 1643, the 
suspicions of the parliament were excited against him. On the 15th of August, 
having absented himself from the house without leave, an order was peremptorily 
issued for him to attend the service of the house : to this order he does not appear to 
have attended ; and being charged with a design to betray the town of Poole to the 
king, he was, Sep. 4, disabled from being a member of parliament, and discharged 
from the recordership of Poole ; and, on the 28th of the same month, his estate was 
sequestered by the house. The following are the votes of the house on the subject :— . 

"Die Luna;, 4 Septembris, 1643. — Resolved, That Mr. Constantine be forthwith 
disabled and discharged from being any longer a member of this house during this 
parliament, for being in arms against the parliament, and endeavouring to betray and 
deliver up the town of Poole. 

"Resolved, That Mr. Constantine shall be discharged from being any longer 
recorder of the town of Poole, and that the town proceed to a new election." 

"Sept. 28, Resolved, &c, That the estate of Mr. Constantine shall be forthwith 
sequestered." 

In the following year Mr. Constantine was apj>rehended in Poole, and the mayor 
was ordered to send him up to London in safe custody, with sir George Hastings and 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 241 

Samuel Bond, esq., of the inner temple, counsellor at 
law, was appointed March 15, 1650. He was removed to 
make room for 

William Constantine, esq., who was restored July 26 4 
1660; but was again displaced by the commissioners 
under the corporation act, Oct. 17, 1662. 

Anthony Ettricke, esq., was chosen Oct. 23, 1662, in the 
room of Constantine***. He resigned the office in January, 
1682, and was succeeded by 

William White, esq., of the middle temple, barrister 



Sir. Hannam, jun., then prisoners there. Mr. Constantine -was committed to the 
king's bench prison, and at last compounded for his estate for £430. The vacancy- 
caused in the recordership by the removal of Mr. Constantine was not filled up till 
1650, when Mr. S. Bond was appointed to the vacant offiee. On the restoration of 
the Stuarts, Mr. Constantine does not appear to have been forgotten. On June 22, 
1660, a wrif was issued for his restoration to the office of recorder, to which the cor- 
poration returned in answer, that he had been disabled by an order of parliament, 
and that, by reason of the vacancy, they had chosen Samuel Bond, who had well 
performed the office, but that they were ready to submit to the authqrity of the 
court. On the 26th July following, another writ issued, in obedience to which they 
accepted Mr. Constantine as their recorder. Whether from the court not having 
been sufficiently mindful of his sufferings in the behalf of royalty, or from whatever 
other cause does not now appear ; but his opinions soon after this underwent some 
modification, for we find that, on the visit to Poole of the commissioners appointed in 
1662, under the act for well governing and regulating corporations, Mr. Constantine 
refused to take the prescribed oaths, and he was acpordingly displaced from the re r 
cordership by the commissioners. This proceeding terminated his official connection 
with the town of Poole. 

* Anthony Ettricke, esq., of Holt lodge, near Wimborne, born 1623, was an 
eminent lawyer and antiquary. He communicated the additions for Dorsetshire in 
Camden's Britannia. He was a most eccentric gentleman; and grew, towards his 
latter days, not only humoursome and phlegmatic, but so credulous of an impulse of 
the spirit, that, having once a share in some ship and cargo which were announced 
to have safely reached the Portland Roads, he was still so far persuaded she would 
never gain the port of London, as to sell his share in the property at a considerable 
discount. The good man's forebodings were verified; the ship and her cargo were 
lost. He now persuaded himself that his decease was fixed for the year 1691, and 
had his coffin made, and that date engraven upon it. The year, however, arrived 
and passed, and Mr. Ettricke was still alive. He therefore resolved to fix the coffin 
with his own hands ; and having protested, in au old fit of spleen against the people 
of Wimborne, that he would be buried neither in their churph nor out of their 
church, neither above their ground nor below it, he obtained permission to fulfil the 
vow, by placing the coffin within the thickness of the wall, and on a level with the 
pavement. Here, in the year 1703, his Temains were laid at last ; and the coffin is 
still kept in good preservation by a rent-charge of 20s. per annum paid out of the 
- of the church of St. James, Poole. It stands beneath an arch in the wal| 
of Wimborne Minster church, is partly raised above the ground, painted with coats 
of arms, and clamped with iron. The original figures of the inscription can be 
plainly traced under the date afterwards written over them. Several neighbouring 
ilabs denote the graves of the same family. 

2 I 



242 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

at law. He also resigned Aug*. 26, 1699, then being of 
Sandford, Wilts. 

Nathaniel Bond, esq,, of Grange, Serjeant at law, was 
chosen Sep. 6, 1699^. 

Robert Erie, esq., of Sturminster Marshall, was ap-. 
pointed Oct. 1, 1707, on the death of Mr. serjeant Bond, 
He resigned the office June 30, 1719, and was succeeded by 

Dennis Bond, esq,, of Grange, whose appointment is 
dated July 1, 1719-f% On his death, 

The hon, James West, of Lincoln's Inn, M,P. for St, 
Alban's, was elected March 4, 1746, 

John Bond, esq., of Grange, M,P, for Corfe Castle, was 
appointed July 18, 1772. 

Michael Angelo Taylor, esq,, then M.P. for Poole, was 
appointed June 5, 1784J. During his recordership, Mr, 



* Nathaniel Bond, esq., of Lutton, in Creech Grange, was educated at All Souls' 
college, Oxford, and took his degree of LL.B. in 1654. He was made serjeant at 
law in 1689, and afterwards appointed one of the king's Serjeants. He was elected 
recorder of Poole 1699, and was also chosen recorder of Weymouth. He died in 1707. 

+ Dennis Bond, esq., of Grange, was M.P. for Porehester, 7th Anne; for Corfe 
Oastle, 1st & 8th Geo. I. ; and for Poole, 1st Geo. II. He espoused, in 1729, Leonora 
Sophia, relict of Edward Dummer, esq., and youngest daughter of sir William Dutton 
Colt, knt., envoy at the court of Hanover, by Mary, his third wife (of whom she was 
coheir), eldest surviving daughter of John, and coheir of her brother, Wentworth 
Garneys, esq., of Boyland hall, in Norfolk, and Kenton hall, in Suffolk. This lady 
was born in Hanover, and obtained her baptismal name from the celebrated electress 
Sophia;, her sponsor. Mr. Dennis Bond died, without issue, in 1746, and the estates 
devolved upon his nephew, John Bond, esq,, of Grange. 

X Mr. Taylor was the son and heir of sir Robert Taylor, architect to the bank of 
England and other public offices, who was sheriff of London and Middlesex in 1783, 
and during his shrievalty received the honour of knighthood. He died in 1788, leav- 
ing a fortune of £180,000, entirely his own creation ; and some anecdotes of him will 
be found in the Gentleman's Magazine, vol. lviii. p. 930. 

Mr. M. A. Taylor was a student of St. John's college, Oxford, where he took the 
degree of M.A. in 1781. He was called to the bar by the society of Lincoln's Inn, in 
Michaelmas term, 1774, and was, at the time of his death, supposed to be its senior 
barrister, as well as father of the house of commons (since the retirement of Mr. 
Coke). He was first returned to parliament for Poole in 1784, and in the same year 
was elected recorder of that- town. At the general election of 1790, he was returned 
to parliament for Heytesbury, and was also a candidate fo,r Poole, but his opponents, 
the hon. Charles Stuart and Benjamin Lester, esq., were returned, the latter by a 
majority of two, and the former by only one vote. Mr. Taylor having petitioned 
the house of commons, with other parties concerned, the committee, in Feb., 1791, 
declared that Mr. Stuart was not duly elected, and that Mr. Taylor should have been 
returned. He, in consequence, relinquished his seat for Heytesbury, and made his 
election for Poole. However, in 1796, he was not re-elected, but obtained a seat for 
Aldborough. In February, 1800, oil the resignation of sir F. V. Tempest, he was 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 



243 



Taylor appointed Mr. T. Bartlett, of Wareham, his deputy 
recorder* by whom the official duties were chiefly per- 
formed*. On the death of Mi\ Taylor, July 16, 1834, he 
Was succeeded by 

William Bond, esq., barrister at law, who now holds 
the office. His appointment is dated Nov. 5, 1834. 



elected member for the city of Durham; but in the parliament of 1802-6, we believe 
he did not sit in the house. In 1806, he was returned for Rye ; in 1807, for Ilchester ; 
in 1812, again for Poole; and in 1818, he recovered his seat for Durham, which he 
continued to represent until the dissolution of 1830. In 1831, he was returned for 
Sudbury ; having in the preceding February been sworn .of the privy council ; and 
he sat for this place till the time of his death. 

For many years Mr. Taylor's house was a rendezvous for the W T hig party ; and his 
liberal and elegant, but unostentatious, hospitality will be long remembered. He 
was one of the few surviving associates of Mr. Fox. He was on terms of personal 
friendship with George IV., and one of his counsel for the duchy of Cornwall. Mr. 
Taylor was of late years chiefly distinguished by his persevering exposition of the 
grievances of the chancery court ; and he lived to see many of his recommendations 
effected by the instrumentality of his friend lord Brougham. Mr. M. A. Taylor, and 
his father, sir Robert, were the authors of two very useful but complex acts of par- 
liament. Sir Robert's was the building act, which secured to the metropolis that 
most important safeguard against the spread of fire s the erection of party walls ; Mi*. 
Taylor's was the street act, by which most of the nuisances and obstructions, which 
heretofore deformed the metropolis, have been effectually got rid of. 

Mr. Taylor died at his house at Whitehall, July 16, 1834 ; and his body was interred 
on the 23rd, in the family vault at St. Martin's in the Fields. 

* Mr. Bartlett was the representative of the family of Bartlett, of Holwell and 
Cranbourne, Dorset. He was a gentleman of great legal and antiquarian knowledge ; 
and made considerable contributions to the second edition of Hutchins's Dorset. 
After his appointment as deputy recorder of Poole, by Mr. Taylor, his attention to 
his official duties was most exemplary, so that on the death of Mr. Taylor, and the 
consequent termination of Mr. Bartlett's services, the corporation resolved to present 
him with some testimonial of their respect and of the high estimation in which 
they held the integrity and efficiency with which, for more than thirty years, he 
had executed the office of deputy recorder of the borough ; and accordingly, in 
March, 1835, a superb silver vase was presented to him. The vase was richly chased 
with wreaths of vine leaves, intermingled with the fruit ; the handles were also 
enriched with the same pattern, while a beautiful blending of the acanthus leaf sur- 
rounded the lower part. The cover, Avhich was likewise enriched, was surmounted 
with a dolphin, hauriant (the crest of the corporation). On one side of the vase the 
Poole arms were neatly engraven, and the other side bore the following inscription :— 

" PRESENTED BY THE 

MAYOR, BAILIFF, BURGESSES, AND COMMONALTY 

OF POOLE, 

TO 

THOMAS BARTLETT, Esqre., 

AS A TOKEN OF RESPECT FOR THE HIGHLY SATISFACTORY AND 

IMPARTIAL MANNER IN WHICH, FOR A PERIOD OF VERY MANY YEARS, 

HE EXECUTED THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF 

DEPUTY RECORDER OF THE TOWN AND COUNTY OF POOLE." 

Mr. Bartlett died at Wareham, in March, 1836. 



244 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 



PARLIAMENTARY ANNALS. 

In entering" upon an investigation of the parliamentary 
history of Poole, it may serve to illustrate that enquiry to 
examine briefly the rise and gradual development of our 
great national council. 

The antiquity and progress of that assembly — its ancient 
constitution — and the period at which its component estates 
first assumed their several functions, are questions on 
which the ingenuity and the industry of antiquaries and 
historians have been frequently exercised; Prejudice, the 
fertile source of error, as is too often the case, has, how- 
ever, involved the subject in the ambiguity of party.* 
favouring theories* in addition to the obscurity with which 
matters of high antiquity are necessarily surrounded* 
Political partizans, of either extreme, have undertaken the 
investigation, not with the resolve of exploring facts to 
serve as the basis of their arguments, but with an estab- 
lished bias, and a predetermination to select such circum- 
stances only as might serve to justify that bias* But 
time, and the diligent research of impartial enquirers, have 
succeeded in tearing down the veil thus interposed, and 
enabled us to form something like a satisfactory view of 
this important subject* 

The British parliament, like ail other complicated 
fabrics of man's wisdom, did not spring into existence 
with the full development of perfected functions and in 
the exercise of matured power. To these the lapse of 
many an age, the occurrence of many a favouring" circum- 
stance, gradual changes in the relations of society, and the 
accumulated experience and judgment of wise men of 
successive generations, were necessary. For the nucleus 
of that institution which afterwards expanded into the 
British parliament, we must look to those national councils 
which have been held from times to which neither record 



MUNICIPAL HISTORYi 245 

nor tradition extends. Like other northern nations, the 
ancient Britons had their supreme national assemblies, at 
which their priests and their warrior chieftains met to 
deliberate on questions of peace and war, and on matters 
of internal oovernment. 

In the time of the Saxons, the information relative to 
the national council, though not altogether free from 
obscurity, is, nevertheless, as clear as might be supposed, 
when the lapse of time is considered. This council, 
termed michel-svnoth, michel-gemote, or more frequently 
witenagemote, was composed of the bishops and abbots, 
the ealdermen or governors of counties, who, from the 
Danish times, were often termed jarls or earls, and the 
great thanes or allodial proprietors of lands : they were 
assembled by the king, to concur in and witness his 
laws, to advise on questions of peace and war, to take 
instructions for the assistance to be afforded by them, and 
to deliberate on the general affairs of the kingdom. Such 
an assembly existed in each of the Saxon kingdoms during 
the time of the heptarchy ; and, on the union of those 
kingdoms, formed one general council for the whole nation. 

After the Norman conquest, the institutions of the king- 
dom did not undergo so violent a change as has been 
generally apprehended. Beyond the more complete 
introduction of the feudal system, the alterations appear to 
have been comparatively trifling. The policy of the 
conqueror and of his immediate successors appears to have 
consisted chiefly of a wise endeavour to prevent the great 
mass of the nation from feeling that they were subjected to 
a new dynasty. Their laws are clearly of Saxon origin, 
containing many Saxon terms, and breathing the same 
spirit of liberty and equal justice which characterized the 
institutions of our earlier ancestors. There still continued 
in existence a supreme national council, denominated the 
curia regis, comprehending in reality the same class of 
people who had been members of the ancient witena- 



246 MUNICIPAL HISfOfeYi 

gemote. It was composed, as we learn from Magna Charta* 
of the archbishops, bishops, abbots* earls, and the greater 
barons, who were individually summoned by the monarch, 
and all the other tenants in capite of the crown, who had 
a general summons through the sheriffs or king's bailiffs. 
In this court the king presided. It possessed many of the 
powers which we afterwards find vested in parliament ; 
but the court, as such, did not make laws ; nor had this 
assembly any regular and established civil or criminal 
jurisdiction. There is no ground for the hypothesis that 
at this time, what are now termed the commons formed a 
constituent part of the national council. All argument, all 
records, are opposed to such a position : and in speaking 
of the question whether the commons did or did not 
anciently form a part of the council, Daines Barrington 
has well said, " no man can read the old historians and 
chronicles, who will observe any strong allusion or trace 
of it, if he does not sit down to the perusal with an inten- 
tion of proving that they formed a component part." The 
council was essentially and entirely aristocratic ; charac- 
terized by nothing at all analogous to that democratic 
principle afterwards inherent in the house of commons. 
But we are now approaching a period in w r hich important 
changes took place, preparatory to the introduction of a 
more free constitution, by giving a definite organization to 
the supreme assembly, which soon became a " parliament" 
in name, possessing the germ at least of the powers which 
it afterwards assumed. The first introduction of the 
representative principle was in the case of the lesser 
military tenants of the crown, — the tenants in capite by 
knight's service, not holding a sufficient extent of land to 
constitute a barony, but who, being immediate vassals of 
the crown, owed attendance at the general councils. But 
as this attendance was no inconsiderable burthen for men 
of slender fortune to bear constantly ; and as we have seen 
from Magna Charta, that the crown tenants of this class 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. j247 

were summoned to the council, not individually, like the 
barons, but by a general citation directed to the sheriff of 
each county, they gradually relinquished the duty of 
individual attendance, deputing certain of their class to 
attend as their representatives, who thus formed the original 
of our present knights of the shire. This view is con«* 
firmed by the circumstance, that for some time after the 
establishment of a separate chamber for the citizens and 
bufgesses, the knights of the shire continued to sit with the 
greater barons. By the adoption of this system, these 
minor tenants appear to have lost their individual right of 
admission to the council ; and the citations to the sheriffs 
merely directed them to send a certain number of kni slits 

J o 

from each shire. Thus in 1254 [38 Hen. III.], the king 
summoned four knights from each county ; and 1261, 
[a. r. 45,] three knights were summoned from each county* 
Down to this time, citizens or burgesses were not men- 
tioned in any of the writs that have been preserved ; and, 
therefore, whatever opinions may have been entertained 
to the contrary, it is clear that the citizens and burgesses 
were not represented in parliament before or at this period. 
But now was effected the introduction of this important 
change in our national institutions, induced by royal 
necessities making' it desirable to establish a more con-, 
venient mode of communication with the growing interests 
of cities and boroughs than had before prevailed. Hitherto 
taxes had been chiefly raised by the justices in eyre; and 
in matters for which the consent of the people was required 
or thought expedient, the king or his representatives gene- 
rally negociated with the different cities and boroughs, 
treating them very much as if they were communities inde- 
pendent of each other, though dependent upon the crown. 
It was now deemed more convenient that the citizens 
and burgesses should consent to the taxes to be imposed 
upon them through their representatives in attendance at 
the great council, The first intimation of any summons to 



248 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

the cities and boroughs to send such representatives, occurs 
in 1265 [49 Hen. III.], when, during* the usurpation of 
the earl of Leicester, that nobleman, improving upon the 
example which had been already set in regard to the 
representative principle, issued writs for summoning, not 
only two knights from each shire, but also citizens, bur-; 
g-esses, and barons of the cinque ports ; the writs being 
directed immediately to the citizens and burgesses, and 
neither to the sheritfs of the counties, nor the mayors, 
bailiffs, nor chief officers of the cities or boroughs. But 
this novel scheme of Leicester was regarded as the 
unauthorized act of an usurper, and was not immediately 
followed up. Its convenience was, however, so amply 
evident, that in the following reign, (that of Edward I.,) it 
was again adopted for the purpose of obtaining a more 
ready assent to the supplies made necessary by the long 
continued wars and dissensions. In this reign we may 
trace the undisputed establishment of the commons as a 
permanent branch of the legislature. It was in the 23rd 
year of this king [1294], that the first parliamentary writs 
were issued, and 120 cities and boroughs or more were 
summoned to send members to parliament; the sheriff 
being directed to return two knights for each shire, two 
citizens for each city, and two burgesses for each borough 
within his bailiwick, provided with full and sufficient 
power from the community of such county, city, or borough, 
to consent and agree, in the name of the said community, 
to such things as the king and his council should require 
of them, and the earls, barons, and peers of the realm 
should ordain^. From this time is to be dated the first 
regular summons of citizens and burgesses to parliament, 
It was thus, as a matter of royal convenience, and to enable 
the monarch the more easilv to levv contributions on his 



* Poole was not summoned to send deputies to this parliament. The boroughs in 
Dorsetshire that sent deputies were Blandi'ord, Wimborne, Dorchester, Lyme Regis, 
3.nd Shaftesbury. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY'. 249 

subjects, that that institution was called into existence, 
which has since proved so important in its power to pre- 
serve within wholesome limits the exercise of resral ore- 
rogative, and to give due expansion to national liberty. 

The house of commons, however, was yet but in its 
infancy ; and, in its then humble condition, offered little 
indication of the authority, and power, and privilege, with 
which it was to be afterwards invested. In its primitive 
state it was composed of burgesses only empowered to 
grant to the king a supply by one general agreement, in 
place of the separate bargains which had formerly been 
made with each borough. They composed not, properly 
speaking, any essential part of the parliament ; they sat 
apart from both barons and knights, who disdained to mix 
with such mean personages as the burgesses were then 
regarded ; they had no voice in deliberative proceedings ; 
and, their consent being given to the taxes required of 
their boroughs, they separated, even though the parlia- 
ment continued sitting. .Various alterations, however, 
were effected in the constitution, some temporary, some 
permanent. Amongst the former may particularly be 
noticed the continuation of the attempts made to restrain 
the exercise of the royal power, by the creation of special 
councils, &c. : and amongst the latter, the introduction of 
a class of peers, deriving their seats from writs of sum- 
mons, and not sitting in relation to land; the severance of 
the representative and hereditary principles, by the knights, 
citizens, and burgesses sitting together in a chamber 
separate from that in which the barons assembled. In 
the course of time also it was found convenient that the 
knights, citizens, and burgesses should not confine their 
views to that part of the community which they severally 
represented, but should agree in the duties to be paid 
in common by the whole of their constituents : they 
thus arrived at the suggestion of a general assessment 
upon the kingdom at large. From thus holding the 

2 K 



250 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

purse-strings of the nation, the parliament possessed a 
power over the monarch, of which it gradually availed 
itself in the augmentation of its authority and privileges, 
until it became invested with all those important functions 
which have marked the era of its maturity. 

In the reign of Edward III., the parliament, and 
especially the house of commons, acquired much greater 
importance than it before possessed, induced alike by the 
wise and liberal policy of that monarch, and by the neces- 
sity for frequent supplies into which he was plunged by his 
long and expensive wars. An important feature of this 
period is found in the attempts made by the king to create 
a representation of the mercantile or trading interests on a 
more extensive basis than had hitherto been effected through 
the ordinary borough representation. To most of the 
councils convened for this purpose, it has been already 
shewn [pp. 84 et seqj\ that deputies were summoned from 
the port of Poole, 

It is in this reign also that the parliamentary annals of 
Poole commence. Representatives were sent from this 
borough from the 14th to the 42nd year of Edward III., 
when it intermitted until the 31st of Henry VI., during a 
lapse of eighty-four years. This omitting to send repre- 
sentatives to parliament was by no means unusual at that 
time; as, long after the commencement of our parlia- 
mentary history, the duty of sending representatives 
was regarded rather as an onerous service than as an 
useful and important privilege ; and many boroughs found 
it more eligible to acquiesce in whatever aids the king 
thought proper to demand, than to be at the expense of 
supporting their deputies in parliament^, and were willing 

* In the early history of the house of commons, the members were paid wages for 
their attendance in parliament j knights of the shire receiving 4s. ty diem, and citizens, 
and burgesses 2s. ty diem, for as many days as their attendance was required. When 
the return of representatives, however, came to be regarded as a privilege rather than 
a burthen, the payment of wages began to cease : those who desired to influence the 
return undertook the payment, in the first instance, as the condition of their 
authority to nominate ; and the members themselves afterwards consented to pay their 
own charges. The celebrated Andrew Marvell is said to have been the last membey 
to whom wages were paid. 



municipal history* 251 

to renounce the privilege in order to be free of the burthen 
attending- it. Nor was this renunciation a matter of dim*- 
culty, for, so long as the required supplies were forth- 
coming, little care was taken to secure the attendance of 
the deputies. It might also have been easily effected 
through the sheriffs, who* until the reign of Richard IL, 
possessed the power of including or omitting boroughs at 
their pleasure, the indefinite and general words of the writ 
directed to the sheriff of each county being " to cause to 
be chosen two citizens of e\erj city, and two burgesses of 
every borough." 

And whilst sufficient reason can be found for the relin- 
quishment by Poole of its privilege of representation, the 
cause of its being again summoned to send representatives 
to the parliament of the 31st of Henry VI, appears very 
clearly. We find that, at this period of our history, the 
house of commons had acquired considerable power, and 
exercised some influence in the disputes between the rival 
houses of York and Lancaster. Hence the return of 
members to parliament became a matter of political 
importance and of public interest: the great men of the 
nation appear now to have commenced their interference 
in the election of its members ; and it was highly desirable 
to the crown to acquire the means of exercising some 
influence in its deliberations. In the year preceding that 
mentioned, the duke of York had urged his pretensions to 
the crown; his followers were exceedingly active; and 
the house of commons manifested a decidedly Yorkist 
inclination. Under these circumstances it might be 
naturally looked for, that the king should encourage those 
boroughs, the manorial lords of which were his supporters: 
and as such lords had necessarily the power of influencing 
the elections, so as to procure the return of representatives 
favourably disposed to the reigning monarch, the restora- 
tion of boroughs that had previously resigned the privilege 
of representation, became a matter of essential policy. 



252 MUNICIPAL HisfoRir. 

Poole was thus situated, and offers an instance of the pur- 
suance of this system* The manor was, at this period, 
held by Henry, duke of Somerset, who was connected with 
the monarch by ties of blood, and proved himself a faithful 
adherent to the red rose of Lancaster, in following* the 
fortunes of which his life was sacrificedi And not only was 
the borough then summoned to send representatives to the 
parliament, but it was also encouraged by the grant of the 
royal charter issued in the same year. From this period 
Poole has regularly sent representatives to thei house of 
commons. 

The growing importance of the house of commons just 
noted, continued increasing during the succeeding reigns ; 
Of which there cannot be stronger proofs than are afforded 
in the anxiety of the crown to obtain favourable returns, 
and the interference in elections that took place on the 
part of the leading nobility* Thus Henry VII., who had 
strong reasons for courting the assistance of parliament, 
seems to have succeeded in effectually bringing it under 
his controul and influence* which lasted throughout his 
reign* During the reign of Henry VIIL also* the parlia- 
ment was subject to courtly influence. Jn the short reign 
of Edward VI*, there is evidence of direct interference in 
elections on the part of the crown, particularly by the duke 
of Northumberland, after he had removed his rival, the 
duke of Somerset. Mary and Elizabeth both followed 
the same course* By such means* and by the restoration 
of the right of representation to boroughs that had relin- 
quished it — a practice which greatly prevailed under the 
Tudors, — ascendancy was gained over the parliament, and 
the prerogative of the crown was at its greatest undisputed 
height. When Elizabeth ascended the throne* she particu- 
larly found the necessity of maintaining this ascendancy in 
the house of commons. The reformation had given an 
impulse to the spirit of independence which is essentially 
inherent in that institution ; and to counteract this became a 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY; 253 

subject for the serious consideration of the crown. As the 
best means of effecting her object, Elizabeth had discovered 
the expediency of obtaining an influence over the boroughs. 
In her reign no less than thirty-two boroughs, which had 
either long intermitted sending members to parliament, or 
had never previously done so, were required to send their 
representatives : and the influence on elections exercised by 
the government in this reign is very conspicuous. Of this 
the annals of Poole afford several distinct instances, to 
which we shall now refer. 

To the parliament of the 13th Elizabeth, George Carlton 
and William Newman were returned as representatives for 
the borough of Poole ; but by indentures bipartite between 
the sheriff and the burgesses, it appears that Newman only 
was chosen by the town, the burgesses having given power 
to the earl of Bedford, at his special suit and request, to 
nominate the other. 

On the election for the parliament of the 26th of the same 
reign, a similar indenture was executed, by which authority 
to nominate a representative for the borough was given to 
the earl of Leicester. This indenture, which is dated Nov. 
11, 26th Eliz., made between William Reade, sheriff of 
the county town of Poole, of the one part, and William 
Bydelcome, mayor of the same town, the senior bailiff, and 
certain burgesses of the other part, " witnesseth that we, 
the said mayor, bailiff, and burgesses, at the special suit 
and request of the right honourable lord Robert, earl of 
Leicester, have given unto his lordship our full powers and 
authorities for us and in our names to nominate and appoint 
his and our trusty and Well-beloved in Christ, Laurence 
Thompson esq re, » to be one of the burgesses of the queen's 
majesty's most honourable court of parliament for the said 
town of Poole," &c. There are counterparts of this 
licence, the one signed and sealed by the sheriff, the other 
sealed with the common seal of the town. 

Notwithstanding the authority thus given to the earl of 



254 MUNICIPAL HISTORY* 

Leicester, Thompson was not returned as his nominee; the 
return, which is dated the following day, presenting 
Francis Mills and Thomas Vincent as the representatives of 
the town. No circumstances appear in explanation of this 
discrepancy; nor are such> indeed* material; the chief 
point, the interference of the government, being established 
by the authority granted to the earl ; who was empowered 
also to nominate a member for Andover in the same 
parliament. 

In the succeeding vear the following letter was sent to 
the burgesses of Poole, by Giles Estcourt, then recorder 
of the borough : — 

" To the worshipfull my very good frendes the mayor & 
burgesses of the towne of Poole* 
" With my verve hartie eomendacions vnto all for that 
as y vnderstand there ys a P'liament to begynne in the xv th 
daye of October nexte, my desyre ys vnto vow that I maye 
have the nomination of one of y r burgesses, eyther yt 
shalbe yf yt please you for myne owen sonne or for some 
other such p v son as I will undertake shalbe fitt and dys- 
chardge the place w th oute any chardge vnto you God 
willinge I will be thankeful vnto you for ytt & be as 
reddye to requytt y r courtesyes any way I can as know th 
God, to whome I comytt you from Say this xxvj th of Sep- 
tember, a 1585. 

Y r verye lovynge frend to vse, 

Gyles Estcourte." 

In the next year is another letter to a like effect, on 
behalf of the earl of Warwick. 

" To o r lovinge freends the mayor of Poole and other th' 
inhabitants there geve these. 
" We haue sent you heere inclosed a l re addressed to 
yo 1 * mr. mayo r of Poole & yo r brethren from the right 
honorable the lord of Warwyck by the w ch he doth request 
yo r consent for the nominacon of one of the burges of yo r 
towne vppon the dissolvynge of the late P'liament and 
somoninge of a new to begyn out of hande and hath writen 
his like l res vnto sondry other portes & p'veledged places 
of this county in the vv ch he hath employe! vs to be a mean 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 255 

vnto yow all for the bringinge of his hono rs request to 
good passe thereupon, in the w ch we hope there shall not 
neede much speach or great entreatie yo r selues knowinge 
how small the courtesie is and how thanckfull it vvilbe 
taken, only this we desire that in consideracon of the 
younge earle of Bedford and for the good love borne to 
yow all by his hono rs late grandfather that yow will have 
no less consideracon and dew regard of my lord of War- 
wvcks request heerin who hath the wardshipp of the 
voimge earle then always heertofore yow have had of yo r 
honorable good freend the old earle and thus desiring© 
yo r p'nte annswere we bidd yow right hartelie farewell, 
from Wolveton this xx th of September, 1586. 
Yo r freends, 

Thomas Horsey, 
George Trenchard." 

In these agreements and letters we observe clear indica- 
tion of the important change which the house of commons 
was undergoing about this time. The anxiety of the 
great men of the nation to have the power of nominating 
representatives yielded to them, and the readiness to pay 
the charges shewn by those soliciting the nomination, as in 
the letter of Mr. Estcourt, establish that the being returned 
to parliament was no longer regarded as a burthen, but 
had become an object of desire. It is obvious that there 
was going on in the parliament, at this period, a struggle 
between the gradually extending spirit of freedom which 
had been encouraged by the reformation and by the 
decline of the feudal system on the one hand, and, on the 
other, the desire of the crown to retain the unchecked 
exercise of authority. The house of commons had begun 
to feel its power and importance, which generated a desire 
in persons of station and property to obtain seats in it, and 
a necessity in the crown to put some species of restraint 
upon the increasing and ill regulated power of the people. 
But notwithstanding the influence exercised over the elec- 
tions, the house of commons in this reign asserted and 
acquired many of its most valuable privileges. At this 



250 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

period, moreover, the house had become settled entirely 
upon that scheme which subsisted until the present age. 

In 1658-9, an irregularity took place at the election for 
Poole, which was brought under the notice of the house of 
commons. On the third of January, being the next county 
court after the writ for the election was delivered to the 
sheriff, sir Anthony Ashley Cooper and Samuel Bond, 
esq., were duly elected, and an indenture of such election 
was sealed and executed by the mayor and burgesses; but 
sir Anthony Ashley Cooper being afterwards chosen for 
the county of Wilts, the sheriff" of Poole, on the 24th of 
January, proceeded to a new election upon the same writ 
whereby the former election was made, and the mayor and 
burgesses elected John Fitzjames and Samuel Bond, esqrs., 
and, by a second indenture, returned them as duly elected. 
The circumstances were brought before the house of com-, 
mons, and referred to a committee of privileges, who 
reported their opinion that the first election was good ; 
that the indenture by which Fitzjames and Bond were 
returned should be taken off and withdrawn ; and that 
the sheriff should return the first indenture. This course 
was accordingly pursued. Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper 
afterwards made his election to sit for Wilts ; and a new 
writ was thereupon issued for Poole, on which Fitzjames 
and Bond were duly returned. 

The first question that arose, touching the right of elec- 
tion in the borough of Poole, occurred in 1661. At this 
day it will hardly admit of doubt, that at the commence-? 
ment of our representative system, the franchise in all 
boroughs uniformly pertained to those possessing the 
ancient scot and lot burgess qualification. But from the 
constitution and comparative insignificance of the primitive 
house of commons, it was not originally of much import- 
ance to any parliamentary borough in what manner its 
deputies were chosen, or who were the individuals who 
interested themselves in the returns. The honour of being 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 257 

the representative of a borough was, in those times, little 
coveted ; and the privilege of voting* in his election was 
still less an object of contention. Thus, in many boroughs, 
the franchise fell, in the progress of time, into the hands of 
select bodies who had assumed, by delegation or by a 
species of conventional usurpation, the administration of 
municipal government, An attempt to trace the rise of 
such a body in the borough of Poole has been made in the 
preceding pages of this volume. The parliamentary fran- 
chise for Poole was, down to the late parliamentary reform 
act, constantly exercised by those who administered the 
municipal government, with the addition in later times of 
that interloping class, the non-resident burgesses. These 
did not exercise the privilege till some years after the 
charter of Elizabeth ; as is evident from the return made to 
the parliament of the 14th of her reign. The indenture of 
this return is made by the sheriff of the borough on the one 
part, and, on the other part, by Wm. Green, mayor of the 
borough, John Hancock, senior bailiff, John Mann, William 
Newman, Christopher Rose, John Rogers, Peter Gaydon, 
William Meryat, and Peter Coxe, " ac complures alios 
liberos et legales homines in eodem comitatu villas de 
Poole predictae commorcmtes et residentes" — [" and many 
other free and lawful men inhabiting and resident in the 
same county of the town of Poole aforesaid"] — expressions 
of high antiquity, and clearly indicating those who, in 
former davs, were free from servile feudal duties, and 
rendered lawworthy by enrolment at the sheriff's tourn or 
the lord's leet ; in other words, the freeholders in counties, 
and those who, in boroughs, possessed the ancient bur- 
gess qualification. In nearly all the other returns about 
that time, the electors are merely styled burgesses. The 
subsequent wording of the return has been the subject of 
great caprice. The following occur amongst the varia- 
tions : — " mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty ;" — 
" mayor, aldermen, burgesses, and commonalty 5" — 



258 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

"mayor, and burgesses;" — "mayor, aldermen, and 
burgesses;" — "major, aldermen, and burgesses incorpo- 
rated;" — "mayor, aldermen, burgesses, and commonalty 
incorporated;" — "mayor, aldermen, bailiffs, burgesses, 
and commonalty incorporated." 

The question that arose in 1661, was relative to the 
right of the non-resident burgesses to exercise the elective 
franchise. Of the election this year a double return was 
made; John Morton, esq., and William Constantine, esq., 
being returned by one indenture ; and John Morton, esq., 
and sir John Fitzjames, knt., by another. The report of 
the committee of the house of commons thus appears on 
the journals of the house : — 

"June 15, 1661. — Serjeant Charlton made report from 
the said committee, touching the difference between William 
Constantine, esq., and sir John Fitzjames, knt., concerning 
their elections for the town of Poole, in the county of 
Dorset ; — That the first question before them was whether 
the out-burgesses of the said town of Poole had voices as 
well as the in-burgesses, and the opinion of the committee 
that the out-burgesses had equal voices in the election with 
the in-burgesses ; And that the second question being who 
had the majority of voices, it appeared that sir John Fitz- 
james had much more the majority of voices, and was duly 
elected one of the burgesses for the said town of Poole ; 
And the opinion of the committee that the said sir John 
Fitzjames was duly elected one of the burgesses of the 
said town of Poole, and ought to sit." 

The house affirmed the opinion of the committee, and 
sir John Fitzjames sat accordingly. 

Such a decision might have been expected from the 
disposition of the nation and the parliament, and the line 
of policy pursued by the court. In addition to the mo- 
mentum towards submission to royalty which the nation 
had acquired from the experience of republican evils, the 
crown, by greatly interfering in elections and other means, 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 259 

had obtained a parliament so favourable to its views that 
we are told that not more than forty-six members of the 
presbyterian party had obtained seats in the lower house. 
It had been the steady policy of the court, during- the 
reigns of Charles I. and several of his predecessors, not 
only to foster the growth of the select governing bodies in 
boroughs, but also to establish and confirm the practice of 
admitting' non-resident burg-esses. This unconstitutional 
and unjustifiable practice had been found eminently effi- 
cient in promoting* the measures of the crown for obtaining 1 
influence in the house of commons ; and it could not be 
looked for, therefore, that it would be discountenanced by 
a parliament so well disposed towards the desires of the 
court as that summoned by Charles II. after his restoration. 

Shortly after this time commenced the long- series of 
disputes between the select body, who exercised the cor- 
porate functions, and the inhabitants at large, concerning" 
the elective franchise. These contests will be noticed in 
chronological order. 

[Double Return: 1688: 1st Wm. & Mary.]— At the 
election for the convention parliament, Mr. Trenchard had 
a majority both of the select body and of the scot and lot 
householders ; sir Nathaniel Napier had 33 burgesses 
(meaning by that term the select body, who had by this 
time exclusively adopted that designation), and a minority 
of the householders ; and Mr. Thomas Chafin was supported 
by 22 burgesses, and a large majority of householders ; on 
which the sheriff made a double return, and returned Mr. 
Trenchard and sir Nathaniel Napier by one indenture, 
and Mr. Trenchard and Mr. Chafin by another indenture. 
Mr. Chafin petitioned the house of commons on the sub- 
ject ; and his petition was referred to the same committee 
as the double return. The proceedings thereon are thus 
recorded in the journals of the house, under the date of 
Feb. 9, 1688-9. 

" Col. Birch reports from the committee of elections and 



260 MUNICIPAL HISTORY* 

privileges, to whom the merits of the double return and 
election of burgesses to serve in this present convention for 
the town and county of Poole was referred, the state of the 
fact, which he produced to the house in writing ; which, 
being read at the table, is as follows* viz* : — 

" * That it appeared to the committee that Henry Tren- 
' chard, esq., and sir Nathaniel Napper were returned by 

* one certificate, and the said Mr. Trenchard and Thomas 

* Chafin 5 esq*, by the other certificate* 

" ' It was proved that sir Nathaniel Napper agreed to 
' settle £15 per annum on the town, for their school, and 
' that he was at the charge of passing their new charter, 
8 before the prince of Orange landed^* 

" * To which it was answered by the counsel on the 

* other side, that what was done by sir Nathaniel Napper, 

* was done about the time he Was made free of the town, 

* and that it was usual to give presents to the town when 

* any person was made free-f- : and particularly that Mr. 
' Trenchard and Mr. Chafin, when they were made free- 
1 men of the said town, gave £50 apiece to the use of the 
4 town, for their freedom* 

" * That the matter in question was whether the right of 
' election be in the mayor and burgesses only, or in the 

* mayor, burgesses, and commonalty who pay scot and lot* 



* The prince of Orange landed Nov; 4 ; tlie charter produced by sir N. Napier^ was 
granted Dec. 8. — Qu. Was sir Nathaniel concerned in the issue of the rejected char- 
ter dated in the preceding September 1 vide p. 209; 

•t The following is the entry in the records of the corporation, concerning this 
transaction, which seems somewhat unaccountably introduced into the proceedings 
of the committee. The entry is under date of December 24, 1688 ; the day on which 
sir Nathaniel produced the charter of restoration, and the restored officers took 
their several oaths of office. 

♦'Memorandum the day and yeare above written Sr Nathanell Napper kt. and 
barronett of Moor Creechill in the county of Dorsett was ellected and sworne a free 
burgess of this corporacon by and with the consent of us whose names are hereunto 
subscribed for which admittance hee gave to the said corporacon ther charter free of 
all maner of charge and further doth promise to settle the sume of fifteen pownds 
per annum on the skoole of Poole as his generous and free guift for the education of 
poore chilldren belonging to the said corporacon and then tooke the corporacon oath 
and the seu'all oaths menconed in the act of parliament for regulating of corporacons 
and subscribed the declaracon." 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY* 2(51 

*' * That it appeared to the committee by many parlia- 

* merit returns which were produced to the committee, that 

* the right of election hath anciently been in the mayor and 

* burgesses only, except a return in the eighteenth year of 

* James I., wherein the commonalty are mentioned, with 
' the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses, in the indenture ; 

■ but that indenture is sealed with the common seal by the 
1 mayor, aldermen, and burgesses. 

" * That sir Nathaniel Napper had 33 burgesses, and 
5 Mr. Chafin but 22. 

" * But of the commonalty, that Mr. Chafin was allowed 

* to have the greatest number. 

" ' And that thereupon the committee had agreed upon 

* 2 resolves;' which he read in his place, and then deli- 
vered them in at the clerk's table, where the same being 
read are as follows : — 

" * Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee that 

* the right of election of burgesses to serve in this present 

* convention, for the town and county of Poole, is in the 
' mayor, burgesses, and commonalty of the said town and 
1 county, who pay scot and lot. 

" « Resolved, that it is the opinion of the committee that 

* Thomas Chafin, esq., is duly elected a burgess to serve 
« in this present convention for the town and county of 

■ Poole.' 

" A debate arising in the house thereupon, 

" The question being put, That this house do agree with 
the committee, that the right of election of burgesses to 
serve in this present convention for the town and county of 
Poole is in the mayor, burgesses, and commonalty of the 
same town and county, who pay scot and lot, 

" It passed in the negative. 

" The question being put, That this house do agree with 
the committee that Thomas Chafin, esq,, is duly elected to 
serve in this present convention for the town and county of 
Poole, 



262 MUNICIPAL HISTORY* 

" It passed in the negative. 

"Resolved, that sir Nathaniel Napper, bart., is duly 
elected a burgess to serve in this present convention for the 
town and county of Poole. 

" The clerk of the crown being called in, amended the 
return for the town and county of Poole, by taking off the 
certificate whereby Thomas Chafin, together with Henry 
Trenchard, esq., was returned; leaving affixed to his 
highness the prince of Orange his letter the other certifi- 
cate, whereby sir Nathaniel Napper was returned, together 
with the said Mr. Trenchard." 

Much observation has been made upon the proceedings 
of the house of commons in negativing the resolutions of 
the committee on this occasion. But a consideration of 
the extraordinary character of the report of the committee 
will somewhat account for the vote of the house. They state 
that all the returns produced were made by the " mayor 
and burgesses only," (adopting the usurped signification of 
that word,) with one solitary exception, — that exception, 
moreover, being, as described by the committee, greatly 
qualified ; yet they agree to resolutions adopting that 
exception, and rejecting the conclusion to be drawn from 
all the other returns. A more complete non sequitur was, 
perhaps, never seriously propounded. 

But, notwithstanding this peculiarity in their report, the 
committee were virtually right in their decision, which was 
no less in accordance with ancient law and constitutional 
right, than it was agreeable to the spirit of the revolution. 
The committee appear to have confused themselves, by 
identifying the select body with the " burgesses" of the 
charters and the ancient returns, — an error that was 
throughout fatal to the claims of the inhabitant house- 
holders. And, allowing due weight to the wording of the 
report in justification of the decision of the house, still it is 
in some degree remarkable that such a decision should 
have been made immediately on the assembling of the 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. * 263 

convention parliament, and on the very first question of a 
disputed return that came before the house ; one of the 
objects of the revolution being obviouslv and declaredly 
" to obtain a free parliament by the restoration of the 
ancient charters, and the annulling those that restrained 
the right of election, ,J which was assumed to have been the 
object of seizing the charters. But it is too frequently the 
case, especially in political transactions, that practical 
application does not follow professed principles: it was 
difficult, even for the whigs of the revolution of 1688, to 
adhere to their professions at the expense of a vote ; for it 
is worthy of observation, that "Mr. Chafin was obnoxious 
to a majority of the house then sitting, being a notorious 
tory." 

(Disputed Election of 111 4: 14th Geo. III.]— The right 
of exercising the elective franchise was again contested in 
1774. At the general election this year, sir Eyre Coote 
and Joshua Mauger, esq., were candidates for the repre- 
sentation of Poole on the right of the exclusive body. The 
householders, however, resolved on asserting their claim, 
setup the hon. Charles James Fox and John Williams, esq., 
as candidates on what was termed the commonalty interest. 
At the election, Oct 11, upwards of 130 of the house- 
holders tendered their votes for Fox and Williams. Their 
claim, however, was not admitted by the sheriff, who took 
the votes of the admitted burgesses only, and returned sir 
Eyre Coote and Mr. Mauger ; the numbers on the poll 

being 

Sir Eyre Coote 59 I Mr. Fox 5 

Mr. Mauger 55 | Mr. Williams 2 

On the 6th of December in that year, a petition of the hon. 
Charles James Fox and John Williams, esq., was presented 
to the house of commons, setting forth that on the 11th of 
October last, the election of two burgesses to serve in par- 
liament for the borough of Poole, in the county of Dorset, 
came on ; and that the hon. sir Eyre Coote, knight of the 



264 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

bath, Joshua Mauger, esq., and the petitioners, were can- 
didates; and that John Scaplen, sheriff of the said county^, 
and returning officer of the said borough, a known friend 
of the sitting members, presided at the said election, and 
shewed great partiality in favour of the sitting members-f-; 
and that the petitioners, knowing the right of election for 
the said borough and county, as well by the general laws 
and custom of the land as by the particular constitution of 
the said borough, to be in the inhabitants and householders 
within the same, paying scot and bearing lot, only polled 
such, and had a great majority of votes, and ought to have 
been returned ; but the said sheriff rejected the votes of 
the petitioners, and took upon himself to declare that the 
right of election was in the burgesses of the said borough 
exclusively; and that the votes of the petitioners being 
thus illegally rejected, on casting up the poll there ap- 
peared a majority of votes in favour of the said sir Eyre 
Coote and Joshua Mauger ; and therefore the said sheriff 
did partially, arbitrarily, and illegally, return the said sir 
Eyre Coote and Joshua Mauger, whereas the number of 
votes for the said petitioners would have far exceeded the 
number of those for the said sir Eyre Coote and Joshua 
Mauger, had the petitioners' votes not been rejected ; and 
therefore praying, &c. 



• This is the expression used in the Commons' Journals. 

t In the proceedings before the committee, neither argument nor evidence was 
adduced in support of these allegations of partiality on the part of the sheriff. These 
may be attributed to the height to which party feeling then prevailed in the town, 
and of which an instance occurs in the following extraordinary presentment made 
by the grand jury at the quarter session, holden a few days after the election : — 

" We, the grand jury of the town and county of Poole, at the general quarter ses- 
sion of the peace, holden at the guildhall in and for the said town and county, on 
the 14th day of October, in the I4th year of the reign of George the Third, of Great 
Britain, France, and Ireland, king, &c,, before John Bird, Thomas Hyde, esqrs., 
and others, justices of the peace within the said town and county, do resolve that 
Mr. John Scaplen, who was sheriff and returning officer on the 11th day of October, 
instant, hath been guilty of a high misdemeanour, and a violation of the rights of 
election, in refusing to return, on the then election of members to serve in parlia- 
ment for the said town and county of Poole, the hon. Chas. Jas. Fox and John 
Williams, esq., chosen by a great majority of burgesses, freeholders, householders, 
and other inhabitants, paying scot and lot in the said town ; and we do approve and 
recommend petitions to be presented to parliament praying relief, and to have the 
ancient rights and privileges restored." 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY, 265 

A petition of several persons, being inhabitants and 
householders, and also paying" scot and bearing lot, within 
the borough and county of the town of Poole, was likewise 
presented at the same time. It was of a like effect to the 
above. 

These were ordered to be taken into consideration, on 
Tuesday, March 21, 1775. 

On March 24, a committee was balloted for and ap* 
pointed"^. 

The proceedings before the committee occupied two 
days. The only question in the cause was whether the 
right of election was in the burgesses of the borough 
exclusively; or in the inhabitants and householders within 
the borough paying scot and bearing lot. 

Some argument arose whether the proceedings before 
the house of commons, in 1688, were a determination 
within the meaning of the statute 2nd George II. ; but 
the committee, without coming to a decision on this ques-» 
tion, resolved that the parties should proceed to give 
evidence of the right of election. 

The counsel for the petitioners endeavoured to prove 
the right to be as stated in the petitions, from general 
principles of law, and from the history, constitution, and 
ancient usage of the borough ; contending that the general 
rule of law was, that in boroughs where there was no original 
charter and no prescriptive usage limiting the right of 
election, it was in the inhabitant householders; a rule 
recognised in a variety of cases in Glanville's book, and in 
Whitelock's commentary : — that the ancient proper sense 
of the word * burgenses' or * burgesses' is the ' inhabitants 
of a borough ;' citing, as authorities, Spelman, Whitelock, 
and Madox, and the decisions of the house of commons in 



• The committee consisted of the following gentlemen -.—lord Charles Spencer, 
chairman, John Elvres, esq., Charles Turner, esq., John Tempest, esq., Thomas 
Knight, esq., George Grenville, esq., sir William Guise, bart., Charles Wolseley, 
esq., sir John Eden, bart., sir Adam Ferguson, bart., hon. Lucius Ferdinaud Cary, 
Thomas Powys, esq., Thomas Edwards Freeman, esq. : nominee of the petitioners, 
William Adams, esq., nominee of the sitting members, viscount Lisburne. 

2 M 



266 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

the cases of Abingdon and Aldborough :— that, from an 
inspection of all the ancient charters granted to the 
borough of Poole, it was evident that down to that of the 
10th of Elizabeth, <burgenses' in those charters meant 
inhabitants : — that it also appeared, from inspecting the 
ancient returns from this borough until that period, that 
they all ran in the name of the mayor and 'burgenses;' 
and that the necessary conclusion must be, that the returns 
of members of parliament and the elections were made by 
the mayor and inhabitants down to the 10th of Elizabeth : 
— that, by the charter of that year, the inhabitants were 
formed into a separate integral part, distinct from bur- 
gesses, by the name of the * commonalty,' or, in Latin, 
'communitas:' — that what had been said of the ancient 
sense of the word burgenses or burgesses, was true of that 
of the word commonalty, which might, by the particular 
constitution and corporate name of a place, signify a 
restricted number, but, in its more proper and common 
acceptation, comprehended the whole body of the inhabit- 
ants : — that, in the charters subsequent to that date, the 
two expressions * commonalty' and ' inhabitants' were used 
interchangeably: — that the inhabitants had acted, in many 
instances, under the description of commonalty ; and that 
elections and returns had been made by the mayor, bailiffs, 
burgesses, and commonalty, down to the year 1695^. It 
was therefore contended that the right of the inhabitant 
householders was founded on the general common law of 
parliament ; was unimpeached by any original charter or 
prescriptive usage; was supported, on the contrary, by 
usage, proved down to 1695, and was only opposed by an 
usage of eighty years ; but that no charter nor usage, 
however ancient, if within the time of legal memory, could 
divest a right of election clearly proved to have existed 



* Some parole evidence was given to shew that, at an election in 1695, an inhabitant 
householder, not of the select body, had voted ; but that election was not contested, 
and the evidence itself was unsatisfactory. 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 267 

before the date of such charter, or the commencement of 
such usage. 

On the part of the sitting members, the counsel argued 
that the common law right, as laid down in Glanville, 
might be admitted as founded on general, political, and 
constitutional principles, which is the manner in which he 
states it, but that his doctrine cannot be maintained or 
deduced from history; and that the early periods of 
representation were too obscure to authorize any general 
system : — that the right of election in Poole was prescrip- 
tive, and did not depend on any of the charters which had 
been produced : — that though < burgenses' and * commu- 
nitas' might, in some boroughs, comprehend all the in- 
habitants, there were many more instances where they 
were used for a limited part of such inhabitants :— that 
* communitas' was ill-translated * commonalty,' and should 
be translated * community,' which expression never signi- 
fied all the inhabitants of a place ; and that the Latin term 
in old deeds for commonaitv, was * commonalitas :' — that, 
in many of the charters which had been produced, * com- 
munitas' was used in direct contradistinction to * inhabitants:' 
— that little solidity attached to arguments merely drawn 
from the vague and inaccurate expressions of old charters, 
the tautology of those instruments being remarkable to a 
proverb :— that it was the opinion of some great lawyers, 
that inhabitants, as such, were incapable of being corpora- 
tions : — that, indeed, if there could be an incorporation of 
the inhabitants as such, they might have certain corporate 
rights and franchises under the charters, and yet not have 
a right to vote for members of parliament ; that right did 
not depend on any charters ; it must be discovered by the 
usage : — that the returns produced in support of this usage 
were all sealed with the common seal ; and that there was 
no instance of a common seal belonging to the inhabitants 
at laro-e. 

o 

The charters were given in evidence, as were many 
returns, to shew the usage. 



&68 MUNICIPAL HISTORY* 

The counsel for the petitioners replied to the arguments 
which had been used on the other side, and enlarged upon 
and enforced those previously employed in favour of the 
right of the inhabitants. 

On Wednesday* March 29, the chairman informed the 
house, that the committee had determined that the two 
sitting members were duly elected. 

[Disputed Return of 1780: 21st Geo. III.]— At the 
next election, which took place Sept. 9, 1780* the right of 
election was again disputed* Joseph Gulston and William 
Morton Pitt, esqrs., were candidates, on the interest of the 
admitted burgesses, and Joshua Mauger and John Adams* 
esqrs., were put up by the inhabitant householders. The 
sheriff (Joseph Garland, esq.,) received the votes of the 
admitted burgesses only, and returned Gulston and Pitt* 

On the 14th of November, a petition was presented to 
the house of commons, from Mr. Mauger* on behalf of 
himself and Mr. Adams, setting forth that at the last elec*- 
tion of members for the borough and county of the town 
of Poole, Joseph Gulston, esq., William Morton Pitt* esq.* 
John Adams, esq., and the petitioner, were candidates ; 
and that the inhabitants, householders within the said 
borough and county, paying scot and bearing lot, have a 
right to vote for members to serve in parliament ; and that 
a majority of persons so qualified, duly tendered their 
votes at the poll in favour of the petitioner and the said 
John Adams, but were rejected by the returning officer* 
whereby a majority of votes appeared on the poll in favour 
of the said Joseph Gulston and William Morton Pitt, who 
were accordingly returned, although the petitioner and the 
said John Adams were duly elected by a majority of legal 
votes, and ought to have been returned; and therefore 
praying the house, &c. 

A petition, to the like effect, from a number of the inha- 
bitant householders, was presented at the same time. 

These petitions were virtually set aside by a vote of the 



MUNICIPAL HISTORYi 26J) 

house ; the 10th of April being fixed as the day for taking 
them into consideration. 

But in the next session the business was again proceeded 
with. Similar petitions to the above were presented to the 
house on the 30th of November, and ordered to be taken 
into consideration on the 29th of January, on which day a 
committee was ballotted for and appointed^. 

The committee immediately proceeded to hear the con* 
tending parties ; and similar arguments and evidence were 
used as before the committee in 1775. 

On the 4th of February, 1782, sir Charles Gould, as 
chairman of the committee, reported to the house that they 
had determined that the sitting members were duly elected, 

[Disputed Return of 1790: 31st Geo. III.]— At the 
general election of 1790, not only was the representation of 
Poole the object of a severe and eager contest between 
four candidates standing on the right of the select body* 
but it was also seized by the inhabitant householders as an 
opportunity of again asserting their right to the exercise of 
the elective franchise. The election took place on the 21st 
of June, and the candidates on the select burgess right 
were Benjamin Lester, esq., the hon. Charles Stuart, 
Michael Angelo Taylor, esq., and capt. Robert Kingsmill, 
R.N. ; whilst the inhabitant householders tendered their 
votes for lord Haddo, son to the earl of Aberdeen, and 
lord Daer, son to the earl of Selkirk. The sheriff (Edward 
Allen, esq.,) rejected the votes of the inhabitant house- 
holders, and the poll was declared as follows: — 

Mr. Lester 50 ] Mr. Taylor 48 

Mr. Stuart 49 ] Capt. Kingsmill 45 

Mr. Lester and Mr. Stuart were accordingly returned; 



• This committee was composed of the following gentlemen : — sir Charles Gould, 
chairman ; William Drake, jun., esq., Edward Roe Yeo, esq., sir Charlton Leighton, 
hart., John Parker, esq., Barne Barne, esq., Abel Smith, esq., William Braed, esq., 
Abraham Rawlinson, esq., Thomas Lister, esq., Henry Fletcher, esq., the honble. 
William Pitt, Francis Annesley, esq. ; nominee for the sitting members, Abel 
Moysey, esq. j nominee for the petitioners, John Elwes, esq. 



270 MUNICIPAL HISTORY* 

and this return was the subject of two petitions presented 
to the house of commons, and read on the 3rd of Dec. 

One of these petitions was from lord Haddo and lord 
Baer, being-, mutatis mutandis, precisely similar to that 
presented by Mr* Mauger in 1780. 

The other petition was from Mr* Taylor and Mr* 
Kingsmill, setting- forth that the sheriff, being- a known 
friend of Lester and Stuart, during- the course of the elec- 
tion, admitted several persons to vote for them who were 
not duly qualified to vote, and rejected several other 
persons who were legally entitled to Vote, and who ten- 
dered their votes for the petitioners, and that he acted in 
other respects with great partiality; and that the sitting 
members by themselves, and their agents, and other per- 
sons on their behalf, were guilty of many acts of bribery 
and corruption, and used threats and menaces* and other 
undue means; and that at the time of election, Mr*, Lester 
was a contractor with the commissioners of the navy, and 
thus was incapable of being elected a burgess to serve in 
parliament. 

These petitions were accompanied by others to the like 
effect, the former from the inhabitant householders, and 
the latter from the burgesses supporting Taylor and 
Kingsmill. 

On the 3rd of February, 1791, the house proceeded to 
the appointment of a committee, as in the case of three 
parties; viz., the sitting members; the petitioners, Mr. 
Taylor and Mr. Kingsmill ; and the petitioners, lord 
Haddo and lord Daer^fc. On the committee proceeding 
to hear the petitions, it was agreed by all the parties, that 
the petition of lord Haddo and lord Daer should be deter* 
mined first; for if the committee should be of opinion that 



• The following gentlemen constituted the committee: — Lionel Darell, esq., Ralph 
Milbanke, esq., Paul Benfielu, esq., John Pitt, esq., Hugh Barlow, esq., James 
Martin, esq., Jeremiah Crutchley, esq., George Sutton, esq., Gibhs Crawfurd, esq., 
Francis Dickens, esq., Edward Lascelles, esq., the hon. Charles Hope, the horn 
Vere Poulett; with Charles Loug> esq.j and the earl of Carysfort, as nominees k 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 271 

the right was in the inhabitants, the other four candidates 
were so inferior in point of numbers, that they intended to 
relinquish their respective claims. 

The petition of lords Haddo and Daer was therefore 
first taken into consideration by the committee. In this 
instance the same evidence was again adduced as had been 
laid before the committee on the hearing of the petition of 
Messrs, Fox and Williams, in 1775, and also before the 
committee on the petition of Mr. Mauger ; and a similar 
course of argument was pursued to that which we have 
abstracted as taken on the former occasion. The decision 
of the committee confirmed that of the two previous com- 
mittees, the determination being, " That the right of 
election for members to serve in parliament for the town 
and county of Poole, is in the mayor and burgesses only." 

The petition of lords Haddo and Daer having been thus 
disposed of, a compromise took place between the con-* 
tending parties on the poll of the burgesses. One vote 
was added to the poll of Mr, Taylor and Mr, Kingsmill, 
and another struck off from that of Mr. Lester and Mr, 
Stuart. The positions of Mr. Taylor and Mr, Stuart were 
thus reversed on the poll, which then stood as under : — 

Mr. Lester 49 I Mr. Stuart 48 

Mr, Taylor 49 1 Capt. Kingsmill 43 

The committee accordingly reported to the house, that 
the rio-ht of election was as above stated ; and that Mr. 
Lester and Mr, Taylor were duly elected. The return 
was then amended in conformity with the report. 

[Disputed Return of 1791*: 31st Geo. 111.]— But al- 
though, by the decision just reported, Mr. Lester was 
declared duly elected, that gentleman did not venture to 
take his seat. The allegations made in the petitions against 
his return, that at the time of his election, he was a con- 
tractor with the government were true ; and rather than 
incur the risk of being mulcted in the penalty of £500 
everv time he might give his vote in the house, he deemed 



272 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

it prudent to vacate his seat, by accepting the stewardship 
of the Chiltern hundreds. A new writ was issued on the 
4th of March, 1791 ; the election took place on the 12th 
of the same month ; and the necessary time having- elapsed 
since the surrender of his contract, Mr. Lester again 
appeared as a candidate. He was unopposed so far as 
regarded the franchise of the select burgesses ; but the 
inhabitant householders again resolutely went to the poll, 
and tendered their votes for lord Daer, despite the four 
repeated decisions of the house of commons against their 
claim. 

March 28, a petition was presented to the house from 
lord Daer, setting forth the same statements as were made 
in the former petitions, with the additional allegation that, 
at the time of the election, Mr. Lester was not possessed of 
the requisite qualification according to the statute. 

This petition was not brought on for hearing in the 
course of that session, and it was renewed on the 6th of 
February, 1792. And on the 24th of the same month, the 
inhabitant householders availed themselves of the permis-. 
sion given by the act of the 28th Geo. III., c. 52, to make 
an appeal against the last decision within twelve calendar 
months ; and they accordingly presented, on the last day 
allowed them, a petition of appeal, which, after reciting 
the report of the committee, set forth that the petitioners 
were advised, and humbly insisted, that the right which 
had been deemed valid in the judgment of the committee, 
was not the ancient and true right of election in the bo- 
rough of Poole; and therefore praying to be admitted as 
parties to oppose the right of election which had been 
deemed valid by the committee, &c. 

Neither of these petitions came on for hearing that 
session, the days for their consideration being deferred 
until the prorogation. 

A few days after the commencement of the next session 
of parliament, a petition was presented to the house of 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 273 

commons, precisely similar to that presented in the pre- 
vious session. On the 12th March, 1793, a select com- 
mittee was appointed'^, who immediately proceeded to 
try the merits of the petition ; and, on the following dzy 9 
reported to the house that the sitting member was duly 
elected. This was the last contest in which the inhabitant 
householders enjjaijed in regard to the elective franchise. 
The failure of their endeavours is, in all probability, to be 
attributed to a reliance upon the opinion that they formed 
an integral portion of the corporate body, designated by 
the term "commonalty," instead of standing upon their 
common law right, as the possessors of the ancient burgess 
qualification. 

From this period the body of select burgesses continued 
to exercise the right of electing the representatives of the 
borough, down to the passing of the parliamentary reform 
act [2nd Wm. IV., c. 45] ; by which statute an uniform 
qualification for electors was established in all the cities 
and boroughs in England and Wales ; such qualification 
being the occupation of a house, warehouse, counting- 
house, shop, or other building-, separately or jointly with 
land, of the yearly value of ten pounds. The privilege is 
also preserved to those who possessed it at the passing of 
the act, so long as they continue qualified, under certain 
limitations and restrictions. Residence in or near the 
place to be voted for is made a principle pervading the 
whole system, and all without distinction must be registered 
in accordance with the directions of the act. 

Another act was passed about the same time, for regulating 
the boundaries of cities and boroughs ; and under this act 
the tithings of Longfleet and Parkstone, and the parish of 
Hamworthv, were united with the ancient borough, for the 



* This committee was composed of lord Grey, Robert Peel, esq., the lion. Edward 
Monckton, Clement Taylor, esq., John Campbell, esq., Philip Metcalfe, esq., 
Laurence Dundas, esq., sir Joshua Vanneck, bart., John Bond, esq., Charles 
Anderson Pelham, esq., William Colquhoun, esq., William Curtis, esq., Francis 
Annesley, esq., sir Peter Dunell, bart., James Aroyatt, esq. 

2 N 



274 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

purpose of electing* members of parliament. It has been 
already stated that, by the act for the regulation of 
municipal corporations, these suburban districts were 
subsequently consolidated with the ancient borough for 
all municipal purposes. 



LIST OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE 
BOROUGH OF POOLE. 

14 Edw. III.— John Goodriche, — Edward Triscote^. 
36 „ Edward Barnaby, — Thomas Shaftbury. 

42 „ Richard Fichebert, — Thomas Plonket. 

31 Hen. VI. — , —William Denny. 

33 „ John Skelton, — Thomas Boyen. 

7 Edw. IV. — William Kelsey, — Richard Fayne. 

12 „ John Stone, — John Flexby. 

17 „ Henrv Martin, — William Joce. 

1 Hen. VI IL— John Bedford,— 

3 „ Richard Phelips, — Ralph Worseleyf-, 

6 „ John Maloke y — William Bedylcome. 

14 „ The same. 

20 „ William Bedylcome, Thornhill. 

21 „ William Bedylcome, 

28 „ Thornel, 

33 „ Richard [Lawrence, — John Carew.] 



* Carew and Willis both state that Poole first sent members to a council 14 Edw. 
III., and to two of his parliaments, viz., annis 36 & 42 ; after which, Carew says, 
it intermitted till the 33d Hen. VI. ; whilst Willis [Not : Pari : 18] states that it ceased 
returning members until the 31st Hen. VI. ; since which time it has constantly sent. 

? Hutchinshas preserved he following memorandum respecting these represen- 
tatives : — " 1511. — Richard Plielyp and Ralph Worseley. 25 Feb. delyveryd them for 
their labor beyng burgensys of the parlyrnente, LXs. 




MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 275 

Edvv. VI. — John Hannam a , — Richard Laurence. 
Thomas Whyte, — William Newman. 
Anthony Dillington, — John Scryvyn. 
„ William Wightman, — Richard Shaw. 

1 & 2 Ph. & M. — Anthony Dillington, — Andrew Hourde. 

2 & 3 „ Robert Whytt, esq.,— John Phelips^. 
4&5 „ Thomas Phelips, — Thomas Goo dwyn,esqrs* 

1 Eliz,— Walter Haddon, LL.D., b ~Humphrey Mychell. 
5 „ Humphrey Mitchell, — William Green, gents. 

13 „ George Carlton, — William Newman. 

14 „ William Green, — John Hastings, esqrs, 
26 „ Francis Mills, — Thomas Vincent, esqrs. 

28 „ William Fleetwood, jun., — Francis Mills, esqrs. 

( a ) John Hannam, esq., of Wimborne Minster, was the son of 
Richard Hannam, of Somerset, who was the ancestor of the elder branch 
of this family, seated at Purse Caundle, having married the heiress of 

Bishop's Caundle. This John Hannam married Alice, daughter of 

Orange, of Wimborne Minster, and from this marriage issued that branch 
of the family of Hanham, now seated at Wimborne. In the 1st & 2nd 
Philip & Mary, he had a grant of lands in the tithing and chapelry of 
Plush; and in the 4th & 5th of the same reign, a grant of the site of the 
cell at East Holme, and the tithe of the farm in West Worth, belonging 
to it. He was chosen member for Poole, IstEdw.VI. ; and in the records 
of the town they are said to owe him "for his burgyschyp, xxvjs. viijd.' 5 
He died 2nd Eliz. 

(b) Dr. Walter Haddon, a great restorer of the learned languages in 
England, was born in 1516. He distinguished himself by writing Latin 
in a fine style, which he acquired by a constant study of Cicero. He 
-was a strenuous promoter of the Reformation under Edward VI., and 
succeeded bishop Gardiner in the mastership of Trinity-hall, Cambridge. 
He concealed himself in Mary's reign, but acquired the favour of queen 
Elizabeth, who sent him as one of the three agents to Bruges in 1566, to 
restore commerce between England and the Netherlands. He was also 
engaged with sir John Cheke in drawing up in Latin that useful code of 
ecclesiastical law, published in 1571, by the learned John Fox, under 
the title of Reformatio Legum Ecclesiasticarum; his other works are 
published under the title of Lucubrations. He died in 1572. 



* The following memorandum has been preserved of this representative and his 
successor :—" 1555, John Phelips. 1557, Thomas Phelips. Burgeis of Parliament 
for thjs towne of Poole, in Jauuari, ano 1557, for so moche payde out by Matthew 
llavylande, bayle, for rccordyng Hie names of them, and for ynrolling and other 
chargys, xxxvijs. ijd." 



276 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

31 Eliz. — Henry Ashley, esq. c , — Edward Man, mercht. 

35 „ James Orange, esq., — Edward Man, mercht. 

39 „ Roger Maudley,— Edward Man. 

43 „ Robert Miller, esq., — Thomas Billett, gent. 
1 Jas. I. — Edward Man, gent.,— Thomas Roberts, merch. 

11 „ Walter Erie, esq. d , — sir Thomas Walsingham, 

12 „ Sir Walter Erie, knt.,— Edward Man. [jn. knt. 

(c) Henry Ashley, esq., was the descendant of a noble and ancient 
family, settled in Wiltshire so early as the reign of Henry III. His 
father was knighted at the coronation of queen Mary. This Henry was 
born Sept. 11, 1548, and was appointed gentleman pensioner to queen 
Elizabeth. He represented Poole in the parliament of the 31st of that 
sovereign, and was afterwards knighted. He married Anne, daughter of 
lord Burgh, by Catharine his wife, daughter of the earl of Lincoln ; and 
by her he had three sons, who all died without issue. 

(d) Walter Erie, esq., of Charborough, was the son of Thomas Erie, 
esq., of the same place. He was knighted 1616. He married Anne, 
daughter and heiress of sir Francis Dymock, co. Warwick, and by her 
became the possessor of the manor of Erdington and Pipe, in that county, 
which he sold, 1st Charles I., to sir Walter Devereux, knt. and bart. 
He took a very active part in the civil wars, being throughout a zealous 
partizan of the parliament, and proving himself a mischievous opponent 
of the royal cause, particularly in the west of England. He was one of 
the managers, in 1641, against the earl of Strafford, at his trial, under- 
taking to manage the 24th article, relating to the alleged design of bring- 
ing over the army in Ireland to reduce England, which, for want of 
witnesses, he failed to prove, and was "very blank and out of counte- 
nance." [Whitelock, p. 40]. The earl, we are told, made a proper 
defence, and lord Digby "in a very witty and rhetorical speech took off 
sir Walter," The queen, who was present at the trial, enquired who 
that knight was whom lord Digby relieved; and being told that his name 
was sir Walter Erie, she said that " that water dog did bark but not bite ; 
but the rest did bite close." [p. 41]. He was appointed by the parlia- 
ment to be governor of Dorchester, during the troubles ; and the part 
which he took in those unhappy times may be seen in Rushworth, 
Whitelock, and Nalson's Collections, and in those of the historians of 
that age. In 1642, he, with Mr. Hollis, and other ephori (as lord 
Clarendon calls them), with 7000 foot, 800 horse, and four pieces of 
ordnance, came from Wells to Sherborne, to oppose the marquis of 
Hertford. He was made lieutenant of the ordnance in 1643, on the 
death of Mr. Pym. In the same year he commanded the forces besieg- 
ing Corfe castle, and after six weeks' endeavours, he was repulsed, 
through the noble bravery of lady Bankes, and obliged to raise the siege. 
Intercepted letters, and some taken at Dartmouth, written in characters, 
were decyphered by him, in 1645, for which he had the thanks of the 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 277 

18Jas.iL — Sir Walter Erie, — sir George Horsey e , knts. 
21 „ Sir Walter Erie, knt.,— Edward Pitt, esq. f 
1 Chas. I. — Sir John Cooper, knt. and bart.s, — John 
Pyne, esq., of Curry, Somerset. 

house of commons. He -was one of the four commissioners to the king 
for peace, in 1646 : £750 of his arrears were yoted him the same year: 
and he was also one of the commissioners to receive the king and conduct 
him to Holmeby house. A commission passed 1647, for him to be master 
of the ordnance. He died 1665. 

(e) A sketch of the life of sir George Horsey, of Clifton Maubank and 
Melcomb Horsey, would bear a sad testimony to the vicissitudes of for- 
tune, and the evils of a profligate expenditure. He was knighted at 
Whitehall, Feb. 10, 1618, and was possessed of a noble estate, which 
had descended to him from his ancestors. But this he entirely alienated, 
and gave the'finishing stroke to a series of family misfortunes which had 
commenced with his father. From some of his letters, in 1637, to sir 
George Morton, and others, it appears that his manors of Horsey and 
Pegges were undersold to sir J. Stawel. His wife's jointure was then 
sold ; and sir George Morton absconded into Wales, on account of his 
engagements for him. By other letters, dated 1638, it appears that he 
was confined in Newgate; — sir George Morton still absconded; — his 
wife was sick in London; — he wanted bread, liberty, and necessaries; 
had not sixpence left, nor knew were to get a crown ; for two days he 
had not a farthing to buy bread for his servants, and lived only on water 
and oatmeal and three pennyworth of sprats. In 1639, he was living at 
his brother-in-law's, John Freke, esq., of Shroton : but a tradition says 
he was outlawed for a debt of £10, and died in the county gaol. What 
became of his children is not certainly known. John, his third son, was 
killed at the siege of Sherborne castle, in the service of the parliament. 

(f) Edward Pitt, esq., was the eldest son of sir William Pitt, knt., of 
Stapleton, Dorset, and Stratfieldsay, Hants, and Edith, daughter of 
Nicholas Cadbury, esq., of Arne. He was admitted a burgess of Poole 
at the time of being chosen a representative of the borongh. 

(s) Sir John Cooper was the son of sir John Cooper, knt., of an ancient 
family seated at Kockboume, Hants. He was created to the dignity of 
a baronet, by letters patent, dated July 20, 1622, being then denominated 
of Kockboume ; and he was afterwards knighted, and by the title of sir 
John Cooper, knight and baronet, was returned to serve in parliament 
for Poole, in 1625 and 1627. His first wife was Anne, daughter and 
sole heiress of sir Anthony Ashley, knt., of Wimborne St. Giles, — who 
had acquired considerable fame in the reign of queen Elizabeth, and was 
knighted at the taking of Cadiz, in September, 1596, when he served as 
secretary of war. From this marriage sprang the noble line of the earls 
of Shaftesbury, the iirst of whom was the eldest son of sir John Cooper. 



278 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

2 Chas. I. — Christopher Erie 11 , — John Pyne, esqrs. 

3 „ Sir John Cooper, knt. & bart., — John Pyne, esq, 

15 „ John Pyne, esq., — William Constantino, esq., 

recorder. 1 

16 „ John Pyne, esq., — William Constantine, esq. 

After the displacement of Constantine, a 
new writ was issued, March 25, 1645, on 
which George Skutt, esq., was chosen in his 
room. 

5 Chas. II. — No return. 

6 „ Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, knt. and bart. H 

Lady Anne died July 20, 1628, leaving two sons and a daughter. Sir 
John married, secondly, Mary, lady Morrison (widow of sir Charles 
Morrison, and daughter and coheir of Baptist Hicks, viscount Camden), 
who survived without any issue by him, and was married thirdly to sir 
Richard Alford, knt. Sir John Cooper died March 23, 1631, and was 
buried at Rockboume. 

(h) This Christopher Erie, esq., was descended from the Erles of 
Charborough, and nephew of the celebrated sir Walter Erie, of republi- 
can notoriety. He was the son of Christopher Erie, esq., of Sturminster 
Marshall, who was recorder and respresentative of Lyme Regis. Ho 
died in 1634. 

(i) Some memoranda relative to Mr. Constantine have been given ante, 
p. 240. 

(&) Sir A. A. Cooper, the celebrated first earl of Shaftesbury, was the 
eldest son of sir John Cooper, and brother of George Cooper, esq., both 
mentioned as representatives of Poole. He was born 1621, and, on 
the death of his father, in 1631, succeeded to the patrimonial estates. 
In the year 1636, he became fellow commoner of Exeter college, Oxford, 
under the famous Dr. Prideaux, then rector, afterwards bishop of Wor- 
cester; but removed thence to Lincoln's Inn, and studied the law, in 
which he attained the highest eminence. In 1639, he commenced his 
parliamentary career, having been elected one of the members for 
Tewkesbury. In 1640, on the breaking out of the rebellion, he was 
introduced to the king, at Oxford, and made the extraordinary proposi? 
tion to his majesty, spoken of pp. 116, et seq. From this period sir 
Anthony became concerned in all the political transactions of the 
momentous and stirring times in which he lived, and in which his vigour- 
ous and comprehensive mind, and his statesmanlike qualities, well fitted 
him to shine. His character and the events in which he took an eminent 
part, throughout the fearful trial to which England was subjected, have 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 279 

8 Ch. II.— Edward Butler, esq. 

11 „ Col. John Fitzjames, 1 — Samuel Bond, esq. m 

12 „ Sir Walter Erie, knt., — George Cooper, esq. n 

13 „ John Morton, esq.°, — sir John Fitzjames, knt. 

become matters of national rather than local import ; and require space 
and attention beyond what can here be devoted to them. During the 
early years of the rebellion, sir Anthony was found the advocate of 
rational liberty, and the firm assertor of the rights of Protestantism. 
The subsequent opponent of the despotic views of Cromwell ; he was 
the favourer of that restoration of the exiled royal family which was 
ultimately effected. On this event taking place, he was sworn of the 
privy council at Canterbury, May 26, 1660 ; was created baron Ashley, 
of Wimborne St. Giles, April 20, 1661, according to a stipulation in his 
father's marriage settlement, that, if the family should ever arrive at a 
peerage, their title should be that of Ashley. In the same year he was 
made chancellor of the exchequer, and one of the three commissioners 
of the treasury ; May 27, 1667, lord lieutenant of Dorset and Poole ; 
1671, lord Cooper, of Pawlet, co. Somerset; and earl of Shaftesbury, by 
patent, April 23, 1672; Nov. 14, in the same year, lord chancellor; and 
president of the council, in 1679. His lordship died at Amsterdam, Jan. 
21, 1682-3. The ship which transported the body to England was hung 
round with mourning, and adorned with streamers and escutcheons. 
The corpse was landed at Poole, where the principal gentlemen of 
Dorsetshire, to manifest the regard which they had for the memory of 
lord Shaftesbury, assembled together, though uninvited, and attended his 
body to his ancient seat at Wimborne St. Giles, in the church of which 
he was honourably interred; where also a monument, bearing a com- 
pendious history of his career, was afterwards erected by the fourth earl. 

(!) Col. sir John Fitzjames was the son of Leweston Fitzjames, esq., of 
Leweston, in the county of Dorset. During the war of the revolution, 
he took an active and decided part on behalf of the royal family; and, in 
1645, his estate at Leweston, valued, in 1641, at £120 per annum, was 
sequestered by the parliament. On the restoration of Charles II., he 
was knighted by that monarch, and from that time he continued to sit in 
parliament as the representative for Poole, until his decease in 1670. 
There is a monument to the Fitzjames family in Sherborne church, in a 
chapel in the south side of the choir. 

(m) He was also recorder of the town during the deprivation of 
Constantine. 

(n) This George Cooper, esq., was son of the sir John Cooper mentioned 
above, and brother to the first earl of Shaftesbury. 

(o) He was of the family of Morton, originally seated at Morton or 
Marton, in Harworth, Nottinghamshire, which, with other hamlets, were 



280 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

22 Ch. II. — Thomas Trenchard, esq.?, vice sir John Fitz- 

james, deceased. 
25 „ Thomas Strangeways, esq. 5 vice Thomas 

Trenchard, esq., deceased. 

31 „ Thomas Chafin, esq. q , — Henry Trenchard, esq. 

31 „ Henry Trenchard, esq., — Thomas Chafin, esq. 

33 „ Thomas Chafin, esq., — Henry Trenchard, esq. 

1 Jas. II. — Thomas Chafin, esq., — William Ettricke, esq. r 

long the inheritance of this family, who held lands there in 1289. He 
was member for Poole in the 13th Car. II., and afterwards sat for Wey- 
mouth and Melcombe Regis in the several parliaments from the 31st Car. 
II., to the 2nd W. & M. He died 1698, aged 71. 

(p) He was son to Thomas Trenchard, esq., of Wolveton, and grandson 
to sir Thomas Trenchard, of the same place, who was knighted by king 
James, in 1613. He was member for Poole 22nd Car. II., and died in 
1673. 

(q) Mr. Chafin was of a family eminent throughout the struggles of the 
seventeenth century for their devotion to the royal cause. They came 
originally out of Wiltshire, and in the visitation book for that county, 
1565, there are six descents of them given. The Is ranch settled at Chettle, 
in Dorsetshire, of which the above Thomas was a member, is not yet 
extinct, but has taken the name of Grove. Thomas Chafin, esq., the 
father of the subject of this memoir, was a very active partisan of Charles 
I., in his struggles with the par 1 "anient. He was taken prisoner by the 
parliamentary forces garrisoned at Poole ; and, in 1645, the governor, 
colonel John Bingham, allowed him to go on his parole for forty days, 
for the purpose of endeavouring to settle his affairs with the parliament. 
His estates were sequestered ; but he eventually compounded for them, 
and paid £900. His son, who was afterwards member for Poole, was 
born in 1650. Whilst he sat as member for Poole, he commanded a 
troop of horse, raised in the county of Dorset, at the battle of Sedgemoor, 
against the duke of Monmouth ; and he was a very active officer in 
quelling the rebellion headed by that ill-advised and ill-fated youth. Five 
letters, written by Mr. Chafin to his wife at Chettle, both before and 
after the battle, are still in possession of the family. He died 1691, and 
in the church at Chettle is an epitaph to his memory, 

(r) William Ettricke was the son of Anthony Ettricke, esq., recorder of 
Poole. On a mural monument erected to his memory in the church of 
Wimborne Minster, is an inscription said to have been written by 
Matthew Prior. 



BIUNICIPAL HISTORY, 281 

1 Wm. & M,— Sir Nathaniel Napier, knt and bart,, 8 — 
Henry Trench ard, esq ? ^ 

(3) Sir Nathaniel Napier was descended from an ancient Scottish family. 
but settled for several generations at More Gritchell, in Dorsetshire. He 
was the son of sir Gerard Napier, bart., and was educated at Oriel col- 
lege, Oxford. He married his first lady (Blanch, daughter and co-heir 
of sir Hugh Windham, knt., justice of the common pleas,) in his father's 
lifetime, and lived eight or nine years after at Edmondesham. In 16Q7, 
he went with his relation, secretary Coventry, as ambassador into Hol° 
land, where he spent about three months, and wrote an account of that 
country. He much beautified and adorned the house and gardens at 
Critchell, and rebuilt great part of Middlemarsh hall, the ancient seat of 
the family. In 1676, he was elected knight of the shire ; and was chosen, 
member for Poole and Corfe Castle in several parliaments, t. Car. II. 
and Jac. II. He was instrumental in obtaining for the borough of Poole 
the charter granted to it 4th Jac. II. , just before that monarch quitted the 
throne and kingdom. In 1698, with his second lady, (Susan, daughter 
of — Guise, esq., of Gloucestershire,) he went into France and Italy, 
and returned in 1700. In 1701, he made a second tour into Holland, 
and the same year was elected representative for Dorchester, in the first 
parliament of queen Anne, with his son Nathaniel ; and was again chosen, 
for that borough in the next parliament. In April, 1704, he made 
another short tour into Holland, intending to go into Hanover, but being 
taken ill, soon returned ; and two years afterwards went to Spa, where 
he recovered his health, but died the year after his return home, and wag 
buried at Mintern. Upon the brazen eagle on which the Bible lies in 
Oriel college chapel, is this written, " Hanc Orielensibus dedit aquilarn 
Nathaniel Naper, armiger, Gerardi Naper, de Middlemarsh hall, in com- 
itatu Dorset, militis et baronetti, films unicus, et hujus collegii sociug 



• In an old MS. journal of occurrences in Poole about this period, are some 
curious extracts in reference to proceedings, preliminary to this election. These 
entries are subjoined : : — 

"1689. April 13. News of the coronation of king William and queen Mary: 
great rejoicing at Poole. 

'f April 20. Several gentlemen from London to discover the constitution of Poole ; 
who desired a vestry. 

" Two messengers from London for the same purpose. 

" May 4. Public notices for a vestry the following Tuesday. 

*•« The mayor and corporation attended, with near 300 of the inhabitants, in the 
body of the church, when the minister, after public service and an extempore 
prayer, opened the cause of their assembling, advising that at this crisis, which was 
most promising for future peace, care ought both now and ever to be had in the 
choice of members to serve in parliament, that Poole may not be blamed. 

"The town clerk then desired that all would be unanimous in their choice for 
ever in regard to the members. 

" The mayor concluded with saying that the welfare of the town of Poole greatly 
depended on the unanimity of their choice of members ; and hoped that, at their 
next meeting, which will be three weeks, all this desired end would be answered." 

2 O 



282 MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

gW.&M,— Sir Nathaniel Napier, knt. and bart,,— sir- 
John Trenchard, knt/ 

commensalis, 1654." On presenting to the borough of Poole the charter; 
which he had been the means of obtaining, sir Nathaniel was elected a 
burgess of the borough ; and at the same time he made a considerable 
charitable benefaction to the town. 

(t) Sir John Trenchard, knt., was descended from the ancient and 
respectable family of Trenchard, tracing up to Paganus Trenchard, t. 
Hen. I. He was the second son of Thomas Trenchard, esq., of Wolve-. 
ton, co. Dorset; but was himself settled at Bloxworth. He was an 
active partizan of the duke of Monmouth, in whose rebellion he was far- 
engaged ; and *vyas charged \yith an attempt to raise a body of men in 
Taunton, in which, however, he failed. Bishop Burnet says of him, " he 
got out of England, and lived some years beyond sea, and had a true 
knowledge of foreign affairs. He was a calm and sedate man, and much 
more moderate than could have been expected, snipe he had been a 
leading man in a party. He had too great a regard for the stars, and too 
little for religion. He had moved the exclusion b\ll in the house of 
commons." He was at dinner with Mr. William Speke, at Ilmmsterj 
when advice came of the defeat of the duke of Monmouth, at Sedgempor. 
Mr. Trenchard immediately mounted his horse, and advised Mr. Speke 
to do the same, lest he should be seized and hanged for his attachment 
to the duke. Mr. Trenchard reached Lytchett, but instead of going to 
his house, concealed himself in the lodge of the park, belonging to the 
keeper, whom he sent to secure hirn a passage on board a vessel at 
Weymouth. Tradition says that, at the moment he was embarking, his 
friend Speke Avas hanging before his own door at Ilminster r He became 
the confidential friend of king William, by whom he was commissioned 
to concert measures with his friends on this side of the water, and insure 
his favourable reception ; for which purpose he made several voyages to 
Holland, and finally attended the king when he came over to take pos- 
session of the government. He was serjeant at law to king William and 
queen Mary ; and chief justice of Chester. Upon king William's offering 
to make him a judge, he declined, alleging his incompetency for the 
office, and contented himself with the place of chief justice of Chester. 
March 23, 1692-3, sir John Trenchard was sworn one of their majesties' 
principal secretaries of state, and of the privy council. He was bred at 
New college ; and, in some parliaments, represented the borough of 
Poole; in others sat for that of Taunton. He died 1695, and is buried 
at Bloxworth, where, on a mural monument, the following epitaph 
records his memory: — 

"Here lieth the body of Sir JOHN TRENCHARD, kt. 

of the ancient family of the Trenchards in 

Dorsetshire. He was called to the degree of serjeant 

at law, and made their majesties' serjeant by k. William 
and q. Mary, and also chief justice of Chester, and 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 283 

7 Witt. III. — Hon. Anthony lord Ashley", vice sir John 

Trenchard, deceased. 
7 „ Hon. Anthony lord Ashley, — sir Nathaniel 

Napier, knt. and bart. 
10 „ William Jolliffe, esq. v , — William Phippard, 

csq. w 

principal secretary of state; which offices he faithfully 

discharged till his death. He was korn March 30, 1640 ; 

and dyed April 27, 1695, in the 55th year of 

his age. 

He left four sons, George, Henry, John, and 

William, and three daughters, Elizabeth, 

Mary, and Anne, by dame 

Philippa, his wife ; 

who 

tins monument has 

erected to his 

memory/' 

(u) Anthony lord Ashley, afterwards third earl of Shaftesbury, was 
the celebrated author of the Characteristics and other works. He was 
born at Exeter house, Feb. 26, 1671. His grandfather, the great earl, 
superintended his early education; and, at eleven years of age, he was 
able to ^converse both in Latin and Greek. In 1683, he went abroad 
with his tutor and sir John Cropley, who lived in the greatest intimacy 
with him the rest of his life. On the death of sir John Trenchard, he 
was chosen member for Poole. In 1709, he married Jane, daughter of 
Thomas Ewer esq., and died 1712. The following epitaph is engraved 
on a most exquisitely sculptured monument, in the church of Wimborne 
St. Giles :— 

" Polite Literature, 

in the person of a muse, laments the death 

of her most distinguished votary, 

the right honourable ANTHONY ASHLEY COOPER, 

third earl of Shaftesbury. 

He was born Feb. 26, 1670, 

and died Feb. 14, 1712." 

(v) William Jolliffe, esq., was a merchant of Poole, of a family long 
intimately connected with the most important mercantile interests of the 
town, and of which several branches are now existing. He was the 
youngest son of Peter Jolliffe, whose signal courage in taking a French 
privateer, with the assistance of two hands only, has been already 
recorded, p. 139. 

( w ) William Phippard, esq., was a wealthy and eminent merchant of 
the port of Poole. He was chosen representative in parliament for that 



284 Municipal history* 

12 W. IIL—SirWiliiamPhippafdjknt.,— William Jolliffe, 

13 „ The same. [esq* 
1 Anne* — The same. 

4 „ The same* — Samuel Weston, esq. 

7 „ William Lewen* esq**, — Thomas Ridge, esq. 

9 ti Thomas Ridge, esq., — Sir William Phippard, 

9 „ Sir William Lewen, knt., vice Thomas [knt* 

Ridge, esq., expelled. 3fc 
12 „ Sir William Lewen, knt., — George Trench- 

ard, esq.y 
1 Geo. L — Sir William Lewen, knt., — George Trench- 

ard, esq. 

borough in 1698, 10th W. III., and was knighted by that monarch in 
the following year. With the exception of one parliament, he continued 
to represent the borough until the 12th Anne. He was a benefactor to 
the town of Poole; and, in 1695, gave £40 towards repairing and 
adorning the church, as is learnt from an inscription that was made on 
the wall of the north aisle of the old church. He went through the 
Various municipal offices, and was twice elected to the mayoralty, viz;, ' 
in the years 1697 and 1703. He died Jan. 23, 1723, aged 73. 

(x) Sir William Lewen was the son of Robert Lewen, of Wimborne, 
and brother of George Lewen, esq., who carried on an extensive com- 
mercial business at Poole. Sir William was lord mayor of London in 
1717, and died March 16, 1721-2, aged 65. 

(y) He was the son of sir John Trenchard ; and, with the exception of 
one parliament, he represented the borough of Poole from 1713 to 1754; 
By his marriage with Mary, daughter of col. Thomas Trenchard, of 
Wolveton, he became possessed of the estates of another branch of his 
family, and was the ancestor of the Trenchards of Lytchett, Bloxworth, 
and Sturminster Marshall. His lady was, by her father's will, obliged to 
marry a son of sir John Trenchard, of Bloxworth. Mr. Trenchard died 
1658. 



* The vacancy which sir William Lewen was elected to fill, was occasioned by the 
expulsion of Mr. Ridge. This Mr. Ridge was the queen's cooper at Portsmouth ; 
and had contracted to supply 5,513 tuns of beer, but had delivered only 3,313 tuns ; 
for the remaining 2,300, he paid a composition to the pursers at the rate of 30s. per 
tun, whilst he had 56s. per tun of the queen. There was a long examination on the 
subject before the house of commons, Feb. 15, 1710-11, when the committee com- 
puted the loss to her majesty to have been £18,846 15s. Mr. Ridge said, in his 
justification, that it was a common practice, and, indeed, many frauds of the kind 
were proved before the committee, who came to resolutions, stating the facts proved ; 
expelling Mr. Ridge from the house ; and recommending that her majesty would 
direct her attorney-general to prosecute him, 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 285 

8 Geo. I. — George Trenchard, esq.,— Thomas Ridge, esq. 
1 Geo. II. — George Trenchard, esq., — Dennis Bond, esq* 
5 „ Thomas Wyndham, esq., vice Dennis Bond, 

expelled. 2 
8 „ George Trenchard, esq., — Thomas Wynd- 

ham, esq. 
18 „ Joseph Gulston, esq., — Thomas Missing, esq. 

20 „ The same, — George Trenchard, esq. 

27 „ Sir Richard Littleton, knt.^, — Joseph Gul- 

ston, esq. 
1 Geo. III. — Thomas Calcraft, esq., — Joseph Gulston, esq. 
5 „ Joseph Gulston, jun., vice Joseph Gulston, 

appointed to the stewardship of East 
Hendred. 
8 „ Thomas Calcraft, esq. — Joshua Mauger, esq.-f- 

14 „ Joshua Mauger, esq., — sir Eyre Coote, K.B. 

20 „ Joseph Gulston, esq., — William Morton 

Pitt, esq. 3 

( z ) Dennis Bond was the son of Nathaniel Bond, of Creech Grange, 
esq., whom he succeeded in the recordership of Poole. His expulsion 
from the house took place in consequence of his having heen engaged in 
a clandestine and fraudulent contract for underselling the Derwentwater 
estates. Mr. Bond, and Serjeant Birch, two of the commissioners and 
trustees for the sale of the estates, and sir John Eyles, member for 
London, were concerned in this transaction, for which the two former 
were expelled the house of commons, and the latter was reprimanded in 
his place. For a few other memoranda relating to Mr. Bond, v. p. 242. 

(a) William Morton Pitt, of Kingston Maureward, Dorset, esq., was, on 
the death of the late earl of Chatham, the sole male representative of the 
ancient family of Pitt, long seated in Dorsetshire, and at Stratfieldsay, 
Hants, — a family which has been raised to the dignity of the peerage in 
the four titled branches of Rivers, Camelford, Chatham, and London- 
deny. The first of these titles, created in 1776, (to the elder line from 
John Pitt, clerk of the exchequer, t. Eliz.,) became extinct in the race 



* In Dec. 1756 [30 Geo. II.], sir Richard Littleton, K.B., was re-elected, having 
vacated his seat by accepting the situation of master of the jewel office. 

+ A petition having been presented against the return of Mr. Mauger on the ground 
of his seat having been gained by a wholesale sort of bribery, his election was declared 
void, and a new writ was accordingly issued ; but he appeals to have been re-elected, 
immediately afterwards. 



^86 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 



of Pitt, in 1828, but has been perpetuated in that of Beckford (now, by 
assumption, Pitt-Rivers). The second, created in 1784, to Thomas Pitt, 
expired in 1804, on the premature death of his eccentric son, the second 
iord Camelford. The title of Chatham, originating in 1761, expired in 
1835. That of Londonderry, conferred in 1719, as a barony, and in 
1726, as an earldom, on the youngest son of the famous governor Pitt, 
the purchaser of the Orleans diamond, became extinct with his younger 
son, the third earl, in 1764. Mr. Wm. Morton Pitt was the eldest and 
only surviving son of John Pitt, esq., of Encombe, a commissioner of 
trade and plantations, surveyor of woods and forests, and M.P. for 
Wareham and Dorchester, (who was an uncle of half-blood to the first 
lord Rivers,) by Marcia, daughter of Marcus Morgan, esq., of Ireland. 
His name of Morton was derived from a remote ancestor : his great- 
great-grandmother, the wife of Edward Pitt, esq., of Stratfieldsay, 
(married in 1620,) having been Rachel, daughter of sir George Morton, 
of Milborne St. Andrew, Dorset, bart. 

Mr. Morton Pitt was a member of Queen's college, Oxford, and 
matriculated March 14, 1772 : but quitted the university without taking 
a degree. 

He first entered the house of commons at the general election of 1780, 
as a burgess for Poole, in association with Joseph Gulston, esq., having 
defeated Joshua Mauger, esq., one of the former members, and John 
Adams, esq., who petitioned against the return, but without success. In 
1784, he was re-chosen, together with the late Michael Angelo Taylor, 
esq. ; and, in 1790, he was elected one of the county members, in the 
room of his cousin, the hon. Geo. Pitt, the late lord Rivers. On the I7'th 
of April, 1791, he vacated his seat, on what account we are unaware, by 
accepting the Chiltern hundreds ; but was re-elected ; as he was again to 
the seven following parliaments; and finally retired from parliamentary 
Efe in 1826. He generally supported the measures of his kinsman, Mr. 
Pitt, and the line of national policy marked out by that great statesman, 
and followed by his tory successors. He Was one of the members chosen 
on the part of the house of commons, Feb. 24, 1803, to form the court of 
East India judicature. Whilst he sat as the representative of Poole, he 
presented that borough with a magnificent pair of maces to be borne 
before the mayor, and with two superb glass chandeliers for the guildhall. 

In 1779, Mr. Morton Pitt was appointed lieut. -colonel of the Dorset- 
shire militia. 

Essentially a public man, throughout a long and laborious life, Mr. Pitt 
had the rare success of obtaining the good will of, and giving satisfaction 
to* all classes and parties : and whether as an active county magistrate* 
the duties of which office he fulfilled with zeal, ability, and discretion, 
for upwards of half a century ; or in the senate, where he sat for forty-six 
years, his time and exertions were unremittingly devoted to the public 
good. Nor was his private life less worthy. Beloved by his family, 
esteemed by his friends, and honoured by all, he passed through life 
distinguished by the possession of the purest virtues, and by the exercise 
of a diffusive philanthrophy, and extensive practical benevolence. 



31 


»» 


36 


>» 


41 


5» 


42 


5> 


47 


J» 


47 


JS 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 2S7 

24 Geo. III.— William Morton Pitt, esq.,— Michael Angela 

Taylor, esq. b 
Benjamin Lester, esq., — Michael An^elo 

Taylor, esq, 
Hon. majoivgen. Charles Stuart, K.B, — John 

Jeffery., esq. 
George Garland, esq., rice Stuart, deceased.^* 
John Jeffery, esq., — George Garland, esq. 
The same. 
[2d. pari.] John Jeffery, esq., — sir Richard 

Hussey Bickerton , bart.-f 

To encourage industry and detach the population from smuggling, Mr. 
Pitt established a manufactory for cordage and sail cloth, near his 
domain in the isle of Purbeck, and he also erected, at his own expense, 
a manufactory for hats in the gaol at Dorchester. He was likewise one 
of the first promoters of Sunday schools, and addressed, in 1789, a publie 
letter to the London society, established for their encouragement, con- 
taining a plan for the formation of district committees and county societies 
in furtherance of their objects. He published, in 1798, an address to the 
landed interest, on the deficiency of habitations and fuel for the use of 
the poor : and he was the author of several communications to the Bath 
agricultural papers, and Young's annals of agriculture. He contributed 
to the 2nd edition of Hutchins's History of Dorsetshire, which was 
dedicated to him. 

Mr. Pitt was twice married. His first wife was Margaret, daughter of 
John Gambier, esq., governor of the Bahama islands, by whom he had 
an only danghter, Sophia, who was married Sep. 9, 1806, to Charles, 
second and present earl of Romney, and died in 1812, leaving issue, 
Charles, viscount Marsham, and four daughters. Mr. Pitt married, 
secondly, in 1815, Grace Amelia, daughter of Henry Seymer, esq., of 
Hanford, Dorset, D.C.L., by whom, who survived him, he left issue, a 
son and heir, and two daughters. Mr. Pitt died Feb. 28, 1836. 

(t>) A memoir of Mr. Taylor has. been given, p. 242. 

(c) Sir Richard Hussey Bickcrton, bart., K.CB. and K.G., admiral of 
the red, general of royal marines, F.R.S., &c. This distinguished officer 



• Mr. Garland, having been a contractor with government at the time of his return, 
subsequently vacated his seat, and the impediment being removed, he was re-elected. 

+ A double return was made at this election. The candidates were Mr. Jeffery, 
Mr. Garland, and sir Richard Bickerton. The numbers for the last two were equal ; 
and a double return being made, a new writ was ordered to be issued, on which sir 
R. Bickerton was returned. 



288 MUNICIPAL HISTORY, 

was born Oct. 11, 1759, the only surviving son of rear admiral sir Rich- 
ard Bickerton, M.P. for Rochester. He entered the naval service in 
Dec, 1771, as a midshipman on hoard the Marlborough, 74, commanded 
by his father, with whom he removed, in Oct., 1773, into the Princess 
Augusta, yacht, and from her into the Medway, 60, in which he con- 
tinued until 177Q, was then sent to the Enterprize frigate, and afterwards 
joined the Invincible, 74. In Dec, 1777, Mr. Bickerton was made a 
lieutenant, and soon after accompanied captain Middleton, (afterwards 
lord Basham,) into the Jupiter, of 50 guns. That ship (then under the 
command of captain Reynolds), in the bay of Biscay, Oct. 20, 1778, fell 
in with the Triton, a French line-of-battle ship, with which she sustained 
an action of three hours: the Frenchman then made sail for Ferrol, 
where she arrived, with the loss of her captain, and 200 men killed and 
wounded. For his conduct on this occasion, Bickerton obtained the 
rank of commander, On the 8th Feb., 1781, he was posted into the 
Gibraltar, of 80 guns ; and in the skirmish between the British and 
French fleets, under Hood and De Grasse, on the 29th of April, he com-; 
manded the Invincible, 74, He was subsequently appointed in succession 
to the Russell and Terrible, both of 74 guns ; but, finding the latter unfit 
for service, he exchanged into the Amazon frigate, which was paid off in 
Feb., 1782t Captain Bickerton was not again called into service until 
January, 1787, when he commissioned the Sybil, and proceeded to the 
Leeward islands, where he continued until 1790, On the 25th of Feb., 
1792, he succeeded to the baronetcy on the death of his father. In the 
following year he commanded the Ruby, 64; and afterwards removed to 
the Ramillies, 74 ; and cruised with lord Howe in the bay of Biscay, until 
Oct., 1794. He then took gen. sir John Vaughan to the West Indies, 
where he continued until July, 1795 ; and was then ordered to New- 
foundland, whence he returned to England in the November following. 
During the whole of 1796, sir Richard Bickerton served in the North 
Sea, under adm. Duncan. In 1797, he was appointed to the Terrible, 
74, one of the channel fleet, on which service he continued until pro- 
moted to the rank of rear-admiral, Feb. 14, 1799. In the autumn of that 
year, he hoisted his flag at Portsmouth, as assistant port-admiral. On 
the 13th May, 1800, sir Richard sailed for the Mediterranean, in the 
Sea-horse, having, as passengers, the great generals Abercromby and 
Moore, and the late earl of Donoughmore. He was employed for five 
months in the blockade of Cadiz ; and afterwards in that of the port of 
Alexandria, until it surrendered to the British arms. On the arrival of 
the news of peace, he was left, by lord Keith, at Alexandria, to superin- 
tend the embarkation of the French army; a service which he performed, 
with great zeal and dispatch. During the peace of Amiens, sir Richard 
Bickerton commanded in the Mediterranean, with his flag, in the Kent, 
74; in 1804, he removed to the Sovereign, a first-rate, in which he was 
left in command of that station by lord Nelson, when he went in pursuit 
of the combined squadron to the West Indies. In the spring of 1805, sir 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 289 

49 Geo. III. — Benjamin Lester Lester, esq., vice Jeffery, 
appointed his majesty's consul general at 
Lisbon. 
52 „ Benjamin Lester Lester, esq., — Michael 

Angelo Taylor, esq. 
58 „ Benjamin Lester Lester, — John Dent, esqrs, 

I Geo. IV.— The same. 
7 „ Benjamin Lester Lester, esq., — hon. William 

Francis Spencer Ponsonby, 
1 Win. IV.— The same. 

1 „ The same. 

2 „ The right hon. lieut.-gen. sir John Byng, 

K.B., vice Ponsonby, appointed to the 
stewardship of the Chiltern hundreds. 

3 „ Benjamin Lester Lester, esq., — right hon. 

sir John Byng, K.B. 
5 „ The right hon. sir John Byng, K.B. — Charles 

Augustus Tulk, esq. 
5 „ The right hon. George Stevens Byng, vice 

sir John Byng, created baron Strafford, 

of Ha rmonds worth. 

Richard Bickerton was appointed to a seat at the admiralty, which he 
held until 1812. During this period, viz., 1807, he was elected one of the 
representatives for the town and county of Poole, for which place he sat 
until 1812. He then (having attained the rank of vice-admiral in 1805, 
and full-admiral in 1810,) succeeded sir Roger Curtis as commander-in- 
chief at Portsmouth, which command he held at the grand naval review, 
before the prince Regent and allied sovereigns, in 1814. He was 
nominated K.C., Jan, 2, 1815 ; was appointed lieutenant-general of 
marines, Jan. 5, 1818; and succeeded his present majesty as general of 
the same force, in June, 1830. Sir Richard Hussey Bickerton married, 
at Antigua, Sep. 25, 1788, Anne, daughter of Dr. James Athill, of that 
island, but had no issue. By his death, which took place, at the Circus, 
Bath, Feb. 9, 1832, the baronetcy became extinct. 



2 P 



290 



MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 



County Franchise. — The possessors of the qualification 
of county electors, in Poole, have always exercised the 
privilege of voting for representatives of the county of 
Dorset; though since the creation of the borough as a 
county corporate, the right to do so became a matter of 
question which was never brought to issue. The parlia- 
mentary reform act> however, set at rest all disputes of this 
kind, by expressly giving to all the counties corporate the 
right of voting in those counties at large from which 
they had originally been severed. 




REMAINS OF THE TOWN WALL.— p. 95. 



291 



€l)e €ccle£ia£ticat $ijfto*p; 



The rectory of Poole, with the tithes of Parkstone and 
Longfleet appurtenant thereto, is impropriate. It is within 
the royal peculiar^ and exempt jurisdiction of Canford 
Magna and Poole. The officiating minister is perpetual 
curate-f*, nominated by the impropriators, and licensed by 
the official of the peculiar, and requires neither institution 
nor induction. 

The church of St. James, Poole, formerly appertained 
to the parish church of Canford Magna, as a dependant 
chapel, and, with the mother church, anciently belonged 
to the lords of the manor. One of these, earl Walter, who, 
in 1142, founded and endowed the priory of Bradenstoke, 
in the county of Wilts, seems to have conferred upon that 
priory some charge upon the church of Canford and its 
dependencies; for his son, earl Patrick, by charter, 
without date, grants to the prior and canons of Braden- 
stoke, inter alia, a residue of the manor of Wilecote, 



* A peculiar, in the canon law, signifies a particular parish or church that has 
jurisdiction within itself for granting probates of wills and administrations, exempt 
from the ordinary and bishop's court. Royal peculiars are exempt from ail spiritual 
jurisdiction. There are five royal peculiars in Dorsetshire, viz., Canford Magna and 
Toole, Wimborne Minster, Corfe Castle, Sturminstcr Marshall, and Gillingham. 

♦ A perpetual curacy is a spiritual preferment in a church or chapel ; all the tithes 
and profits whereof are impropriated, and no yicarage endowed. 



292 Ecclesiastical history. 

Wilts, with the church of that town, for the claim which 
the canons of Bradenstoke had in the church of Canford, 
and in the chapel of St. Andrew de Seccre [pro calump- 
nia quam canonic' de Braden' habebant in ecclesiam de 
Canford, &c] : also, a salt pit [salina] at Canford, at 
Waldeslete [que est apud Waldesletam]. The church 
soon afterwards became again part of the possessions of the 
priory, as William, son of the above Patrick, and next 
earl, by charter, also without date, for the love of God, 
and for the welfare of himself and Eleanor de Vitrei, his 
countess, and for the souls of his father, his mother, and 
his brother Patrick, and of his ancestors, granted the 
church of Canford, with all its appurtenances, in pure, 
perpetual, and free alms, to God and the church of St. 
Mary, of Bradenstoke, and the brethren serving God there. 
And by another charter he confirmed the one just recited, 
as well as all the grants made to the priory by his father 
and grandfather. All these grants were also allowed and 
confirmed by Baldwin, archbishop of Canterbury, whose 
archiepiscopacy lasted from 1184 to 1191 ; and by Hubert, 
who held the same office from 1193 to 1207. Hutchins 
says, but We know not on what authority, that, in 1232, 
William j earl of Sarum, confirmed all former donations. 
In 1252, William of York, bishop of Salisbury, with the 
assent of the dean and chapter of Salisbury, recites and 
ratifies the grants, inter alia, of the church of Canford with 
the chapel of Poole, and other chapels belonging to the 
said church of Canford. The church of Canford, with its 
dependencies, continued to belong to the priory until the 
surrender of the possessions of that house, Jan. 8, 1539^. 
It is probable that, whilst in the possession of the priory, 
the severance of the chapel of Poole from the church of 
Canford, and its creation into a distinct rectory, took place. 



* The surrender of the priory was made Jan. 8, 1539, by William Snow, first 
dean of Bristol, and last prior of this convent, with thirteen monks. Snow had a 
pension of £d0 per annum assigned to him. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 293 

But of this there is no existing record : and the endowment 
of the rectory of Poole with the tithes of Parkstone and 
Long fleet, which, in all likelihood, took place at the same 
time, is left equally obscure. Perhaps, indeed, no docu- 
ment to this effect was ever prepared, and the priory, by 
custom, allotted those tithes to the support of the secular 
priests who were deputed to celebrate divine worship in 
the church of Poole, and that church thus acquired a pre- 
scriptive title to those possessions which was never deemed 
to require the sanction of express mention in the subsequent 
leases. 

There never was a vicarage endowed within the rectory 
of Poole, but the priory was entitled to all the profits, and 
became thereby obliged to find a fit curate to perform the 
spiritual duties of the church. The revenues of the church 
were generally leased by the priory to some secular priest, 
who thereupon undertook the duties. The last lease so 
granted by the prior, bears date Oct. 27, 1529. It demised 
the church of Poole, with all tithes, oblations, and other 
profits belonging to the said church, together with the 
rectory and its appurtenances, to William Birte, chaplain, 
for his life, at the yearly rent of £12, he covenanting to 
serve, by himself or some other fit chaplain, divine worship, 
and to bear the customary and extraordinary charges of 
the said church and rectory. 

By the surrender of the priory, with its possessions, in 
1539, the churches of Canford and Poole became vested in 
the crown, and then, doubtless, acquired the exempt privi- 
leges of a royal peculiar; for in theTaxatio of pope Nicholas, 
1291, they are stated to be in Whitchurch deanery, in the 
archdeaconry of Dorset, in the diocese of Sarum ; and in 
the Valor of Henry VIII., 1528, they are entered as 
" Canford and Poole, in the county of Dorset, diocese of 
Sarum." There is also existing, a will of Henry Bosum, 
of the town of Poole, containing many bequests for ecclesi- 
astical purposes, particularly to the fraternity of St. George 



294 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

in Poole ; which will is proved in the court of the arch- 
deacon of Dorset [" coram nobis offic' dm' arch'ni Dors' 
apud Poole"]. 

On the decease of Birte, in 1547, letters patent, dated 
Dec. 20, 1st Edward VJ., were granted to John Han- 
nam, of Wimborne, gent., in consideration of a fine of 
£6 13s. 4d. paid by him, demising" to him the "church 
and rectory of Poole, with the appurtenances; and all 
tithes, oblations, obventions, pensions, portions, and all 
other possessions, hereditaments, revenues, and profits 
whatsoever," for the term of 21 years, at the annual rent 
of £12 : the lessee covenanting to find a proper chaplain, 
and to sustain the necessary burthens of the church and 
rectory. This John Hannam appointed Thomas Hancock, 
to the curacy, and continued to pay him a yearly stipend 
in consideration of his services. 

Nov. 9, 1566, 8th Eliz., on the surrender of these letters 
patent, her majesty, in consideration of the surrender, and 
for the better support of the curate, and that the cure of 
souls within the parish of Poole might in future be better 
performed, demised unto Matthew Haviland, clerk, the 
church and rectory, with the appurtenances (reserving to 
the crown " the advowson of the vicarage"), for the term 
of 21 years, at the yearly rent of £12^. 

Haviland, however, by a deed poll, bearing date Jan, 
20, 1568-9, demised the church and rectory, for the 
remainder of his term, to " the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, 
and commonalty of the town and county of Poole ;" and, 
Feb. 14, in the same year, the queen confirmed this deed 
by demising the premises to the corporation for the term of 
21 years, commencing from the feast of St. Michael the 
archangel then last past, with the same rent, exceptions, 
covenants, and conditions, as were contained in the 
preceding deeds. 

* In the particulars for leases preserved in the Augmentation Office, we find the 
following memorandum respecting this demise : — " The premisses are scarce able to 
fynde a convenient ministre as ap'eth by testyraoniall from the towne of Poole:" 
and for this reason no fine was demanded. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 295 

Dec. 16, 1584, on the surrender of the last lease, the 
queen demised the church, rectory, &c, to the corporation, 
for a further term of 21 years, subject to the same rent and 
conditions ; but on account of their having newly built the 
parsonage house, she remitted the fine^. 

April 16, 1606, James I., by letters patent, demised the 
church, rectory, and other premises, to the same corpora- 
tion, for the further term of 40 years, under the yearly 
rent of £12 16s., and with a fine of £12-f-. 

Prior to the expiration of this term, viz., May 9, 1633, 
Charles I., granted, by letters patent, to Thomas Aston and 
Henry Herryman, in trust, for the countess of Anglesea 
and her heirs, in fee farm, for ever, the rectory, advowson, 
church, and all its appurtenances, including all tithes, &c, 
" as well in the aforesaid town and county of Poole, as in 
the county of Dorset, to the aforesaid rectory and church 
of Poole belonging," reserving to the crown a fee farm 
rent of £12 16s. ; the grantees covenanting to provide a 
preacher, pay his stipend, and maintain the chancel, 
houses, &c. 

In the same year, June 5, Aston and Herryman, with the 
countess of Anglesea, conveyed the rectory, &c, to 
Thomas Smithby, of London, in consideration of £256 
paid to the said countess, to be applied in discharge of her 
husband's debts. 

By a feoffment, bearing date Sep. 1, 1650, Thomas 



• The following memorandum is from the particulars in the Augmentation Office : 
♦'The profitte of the said parsonage (as I am enformed) little surmounteth her mattes 
yerely rent, and in consideracon that the maior and burgeses of Poole did covenaunte 
to fynde a sufficient curate or preacher during the terme above mencioned (xxj yers) 
to serve the cure there, they had the same wthout fyne, which nowe alsoe they are 
humble sutors to yor hono r they maye in like sort have as well for the consideracons 
aforesaid as for that I am enformed by Robert Freke, gent. , her maties surveyor of 
the said countie, that they have (to their great charge) newe buylded the p'sonage 
howse there, wch was in great decaye, w& the said burgeses have heretofore by their 
sondrie l'res made knowen to yor hono r ." 

•t In the particulars in the Augmnetation Office is the following entry :— 

" The clere yerlie value of the p'misses xij.li. 

" The increase of rent one sheepe valued at xvj.s. 

"The ffyneone yere's rent , xij.li." 



296 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 



Smithby and Martha his wife, conveyed the rectory, &c, 
to Haviland Hiley, then mayor of the town of Poole, 
George Skutt, William Williams, Aaron Durell, William 
Skutt, Richard Dolbery, George Skutt, jun., Lawrence 
Gigger, Moses Durell, Peter Hall, John Powell, and 
Robert Cleeves, all merchants of Poole, for £100, " and 
divers other good causes and considerations." 

May 30, 1692, Moses Durell, the sole survivor of the 
above-named grantees, conveyed the rectory, &c, to 
Shadrach Beall, the then mayor, John Carter, William 
Philips, William Street, William Hooper, Peter Hiley, 
Moses Durell, jun., William Pike, Thomas Smith, Shadrach 
Beall, jun., Joseph Wadham, and Thomas Young. The 
indenture by which this conveyance was effected, stated 
the above purchase from Smithby and his wife to have 
been designed by the purchasers for the benefit and 
advantage of the town and county, and that the issues and 
profits should be disposed of by the mayor, magistrates, 
and burgesses, to such public uses as they should think fit : 
and that Durell, being, by right of survivorship, solely 
seised of the rectory and premises, to the intent that the 
trust might be fulfilled, conveyed the rectory, &c, to the 
above-named individuals, in trust for the mayor, magis- 
trates, and burgesses, for £44 12s., moneys of the corpora- 
tion, and which sum is said in the indenture to have been 
expended by Durell about the rectory and premises. 

Since the execution of this deed, the rectory, &c, 
remained in the possession of the select corporate body : 
not, however, without expensive litigation on proceedings 
taken by the parishioners at large, who, by a bill filed in 
chancery, in 1789, claimed the possession of the rectory, 
&c, for the purpose of exercising the right of nomination. 
They founded this claim on the deed of 1650, contending 
that the sum of £100, the consideration mentioned in that 
indenture, was the proper money of the parishioners at 
large, and raised from voluntary contributions, by collect 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 297 

tions made from house to house ; and that the purchase 
was therefore made by Hiley and his co-grantees, in trust, 
and for the benefit of the parishioners. The corporation, 
however, denied these allegations ; and contended, on the 
other hand, that the said sum of £100 was actually 
advanced by Hiley and the other grantees out of their own 
money : and, in support of this statement, they cite a draft 
of an agreement, still in the corporation chest, made 
between Hiley and his co-grantees, about the time of the 
purchase, touching the management and disposition of the 
rectory, &c„ in which the several proportions of the pur- 
chase money paid by each of them are particularly stated, 
and by which it appears to have been agreed that, in the 
direction and management of the rectory, &c, each of the 
grantees should have one or more voices, in proportion to 
the sums respectively advanced by them : and it is stated 
that the receiver of the revenues should pay off the purchase 
money, by instalments, in six years ; and that during those 
six years, the residue of the profits, and afterwards the 
whole of the rents and revenues should be employed and 
disposed of, either to the benefit of the said church of 
Poole, or to other pious uses, — Two commissions were 
opened at Poole for the examination of witnesses, and the 
cause was heard before lord Thurlow, in Michaelmas term, 
1791, when the complainants were ordered to find out the 
heir-at-law of the surviving trustee of the deed of 1692, 
This they were unable to do ; and the bill was dismissed 
with costs, in Hilary term, 1695. 

The fee-farm rent of £12 16s., reserved by the crown 
in the grant to Aston and Herryman, appears to have been 
subsequently granted by the crown to private individuals, 
by whom (probably by Anthony Ettricke, formerly re- 
corder of the borough) it was dispersed in the following 
manner, in which it has been paid by the corporation for a 
great number of years past : — 



2 Q 



298 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

To the poor of St. Margaret's hospital, at Wimborne, ) £ s. d. 
being a part of a charitable donation of the rev. W. > 9 16 
Stone, to that institution \ 

To the churchwardens of Wimborne, for the repair of? , n n 
Anthony Ettricke's tomb \ L u u 

To the fellows of Queen's college, Oxford, to be spent in ) 

wine and tobacco on the fifth of November, yearly, > 2 
(Ettricke's Pcenitentia) ) 

12 16 

The following is the entry, relative to this parish, in the 
Inquisitiones Nonarum, under date of April 20, 14th Edw. 
III. [1340]. 

"P'och' de P'le in com' Dors'.— Walt's Doge Thorn' 
Langford' A'd' Langford' Joh' Chacccroft Joh' Cobbe & 
Nich's le Reve p'och' ibid'in jur' p'sent q'd ecc'a ibid'm 
no' tax' s' val' p' annu' iiij u - Et die' q'd ix a p's garb' 
veil' & agn' val' p' a'm lxxiij 3 iiij d . Et no' plusq' residua' 
valor' ecce ejusdem consistit in d'nic' t'ris & p't in dot' 
ejusd'm dec' lini' feni et al' ininut' dec' oblat' obvent' val' 
p' annu' xijs x<3. 

" S'ni ix e p'tis lxxiij 8 iiijd."^ 

In the Taxatio Ecclesiastica-f- of Pope Nicholas [circ 
1291], Poole is not separately mentioned, being doubtless 
included in the entries for Canford, which are as follows : 
viz., under the head of Spiritualities, 

" Diocese of Sarum — Archdeaconry of Dorset — Whit- 
church Deanery.— 

Taxatio. Tenths. 

" The church of Canford, 13 6 8—1 6 8 

" The vicarage of the same, . . 6 13 4-0 13 4" 



* The object of this record was to ascertain the value of the nona, or ninth part of 
the corn, fleeces, and lambs, in each parish ; that portion having been granted to the 
king, as a temporary aid to him', in his wars with France. 

+ In the year 1288, pope Nicholas IV. granted the tenths to king Edward I. for six 
years, towards defraying the expense of an expedition to the Holy Land: and that 
they might be collected to their full value, a taxation by the king's precept was begun 
in the same year, and finished as to the province of Canterbury, in 1291, and as to that 
of York, in the following year ; the whole being under the direction of John, bishop 
of Winton, and Oliver, bishop of Lincoln. This taxation is a most important record, 
because all the taxes, as well to our kings as the popes, were regulated by it, until the 
survey made in the 26th of Henry VIII. ; and because the statutes of colleges which 
were founded before the reformation, are also interpreted by this criterion, according 
to which their benefices, under a certain value, are exempted from the restriction in 
the statue 21st Henry VIII., concerning pluralities. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 299 

And under the head of Temporalities, 
" Canford (the priory of Bradenstoke) 2 0—0 4 

In the Valor Ecclasiasticus* of Henry VIJ1. [1534], is 
the following entry : — 

" Bradenstoke priory. 

" Canford and Poole, in the county of Dorset, diocese of 
Sarum. 

" The rent of assize to the same per annum, £22 13 4. 

" Without deductions." 

The return for Poole to the commission of 1650 is 
wanting-f*. At that period Poole was not included in the 
return for Canford ; and in the return for this latter place 
is the*following passage relative to the tithes of Parkstone 
and Longfleet : — 

" And, whereas, there is over and above this above s d the 
tythes of Parkson and Longfleete, being within this parish 
of Great Canford, which s d tythe is paid to Poole, in what 
right we know not, to the value of £20 per annum, or 



* The Valor Ecclesiasticus is a kind of Domesday of church property, taken pur- 
suant to commissions issued 26th Henry VIII., for the purpose of ascertaining the 
whole and true value of all possessions, as well spiritual as temporal, belonging to 
any manor of dignity, monastery, priory, &c, iu England, Wales, Calais, and the 
Marches. 

The importance of this record, which is the return of the commissioners into the 
Exchequer, to a writ of king Henry VIII., dated 30th January, 26th of his reign, and 
to instiuctions pu-uant to that writ, signed by the king himself, is generally known, 
and acknowledged. 

By this reeord, sometimes called the king's books, the true annual value of rec- 
tories, and vicarages, at the time of taking this survey is fixed ; and the first fruits 
and tenths due to the crown, are charged accordingly. It is the criterion also, by 
which is determined what livings were then under episcopal jurisdiction ; other livings, 
not there recorded, being considered as donative : but its greatest utility is that which 
is, iu some respect, ecjualiy applicable with respect to the Nona Roll, viz., that by 
ascertaining what are rectorial, and what vicarial tithes, the chasm of evidence 
occasioned by the loss of endowment, is supplied. 

•* April 3, 1650, a commission was directed to several officers of the commonwealth, 
and thirty-six gentlemen of the county, to enquire on oath into the number and 
veaa-ly value of rectories, vicaiages, &c, with or without cure of souls ; names of 
incumbents or proprietors ; who supplied the cure, and at what salary ; and what 
churches or chapels were fit to be united, and what to be separated ; pursuant to an 
act made 8th June, 1649, for providing maintenance for preaching minis ters. The 
returns were made into chancery, and are now in the Rolls chapel. They are also in 
the archbishop's library at Lambeth, in eighteen thick folio volumes, but in no 
Tegular order. The originals are said to have been burnt in the fire of London. 
About 21 returns were never brought in. 



300 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

upwards ; and we do desire that it may be p d to our owti 
minister, being in our own parish." 

In the report of the ecclesiastical commissioners [1835], 
Poole is returned as a perpetual curacy, of the annual 
value of £307, on an average of the three years, ending 
Dec. 31,1831. 

The revenues of the rectory consist of the tithes of 
Parkstone and Longfleet, and the rent of an allotment 
Under the enclosure act of the 45th of Geo. III. A ques- 
tion has arisen, upon the deed of 1692, how far the corpo- 
ration were entitled to apply the profits of the rectory 
either to their own general purposes or to any other object, 
except that of supporting the curate, and the buildings 
which they were bound to repair. The practice of the 
corporation varied from time to time in its mode of 
dealing with this trust, and the interests which arise under 
it. Until 1807, the tithe account, as it is called, was 
blended with the general corporate account. In that year 
a separate account was, for the first time, kept, and has 
been continued to the present day. In the same year a 
resolution passed, that the curate should have the surplus 
of the tithes* In Feb., 1814, this resolution was rescinded, 
and the surplus was made applicable to the debts charged 
upon the fund. In November of that year, it was deter- 
mined that £200 a year should be paid annually to the 
perpetual curate out of the produce of the tithes, during 
the then existing leases. Those leases have expired, but 
the incumbent has continued to be paid on the same 
footing ; and there is also an annual vote of £100, to enable 
him to provide a curate. 

Both the mode and the amount of payment were, in 
earlier times, much varied. The leases by the priory and 
by the crown were occasionally granted to priests who 
served the cure and maintained themselves on the profits, 
as in the instances of Birte and Haviland. In 1568, just 
previous to a lease to the corporation, it may be presumed 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 301 

that the stipend of the curate was insufficient, as an order 
was then made by the corporation, that every merchant and 
inhabitant within the town of Poole, freighting* any ship or 
bark crossing the seas in trade, should agree with the 
master or owner of such ship or bark, that the said 
master or owner should allow and pay out of every pound 
due for such freight, fourpence, which should be imme- 
diately paid to the mayor for the time being, to be 
appropriated to the preacher of God's word within the 
town. This payment has long fallen into disuse. Whilst 
Mr. Smithby held the rectory, it would appear that he 
appropriated the revenues without providing a competent 
allowance to the curate ; for, June 21, 1648, it was ordered 
by the house of commons, '-that it be referred to the 
committee for plundered ministers, to send for Mr. Smithby 
who has the impropriation of Poole; and to treat and 
confer with him upon the making, out of the profits thereof, 
some competent allowance to a preaching minister in the 
said parish, as hath formerly been used." In 1668, the 
corporation agreed to pay £15 per quarter to the rev. S. 
Hardy, during his curacy. In 1689, an order was made 
by thefcorporation, that the rev. John Russell should be 
paid £52 per annum, to be collected in the customary 
manner, and any deficiency was to be made good out of 
the town revenues. After the last date, it was the practice 
of the corporation, in their rectorial capacity, to lease the 
tithes to the curate at some low or nominal rent, as a 
roasting-pig or a pepper-corn, a practice that generally 
prevailed almost down to 1707. 

The official of Canford Magna and Poole is appointed 
by the lord of the manor. The rev. C. Bowie is the 
present official. 



302 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY* 



PERPETUAL CURATES. 



1. William Birte was appointed curate of this church in 
a lease granted to him by the priory of Bradenstoke, 
bearing- date Oct. 27, 1529.* On his death, in 1546, 

2. Thomas Hancock was nominated by the crown. 

In what college or hall of Oxford, Thomas Hancock was a student, 
or whether he took any higher degree than that of B.A., 1532, 
does not appear. After he left that university, he retired to his 
native county, Hampshire, being born at or near Christchurch 
Twynham, and became a diligent preacher of the gospel, and a 
declaimer against papal abuses, in the latter years of the reign of 
Henry VIII., insomuch that Ms mouth being stopped by a strict 
inhibition of bishop Gardiner, he would preach in the diocese of 
Sarum, and being prohibited by Sallcott, bishop of that diocese, 
he was, in the beginning of the reign of Edward VI., countenanced 
and licensed to proceed in his preaching by archbishop Cranmer. 
At that time many zealous preachers of the gospel, without staying 
for public orders from above, did, in confutation of the sacrifice of 
the mass, and the corporal presence in the sacrament, and such, 
shew their good intentions to new learning, as it was then called. 
In Southampton, of the diocese'bf Winchester : in Salisbury, Poole, 
and Dorset, of the diocese of Salisbury, did this Hancock chiefly 
converse and officiate, in the latter end of the reign of Henry VIII., 
at which time he was suspended "a celebratione divinorum" by 
Dr. Robert Reynold, commissary under Dr. Steward, their chan- 
cellor under Gardiner, on pretence of the breach of the act of the 
six articles, because he had undertaken to prove, out of Hebrews 
ix., that our Saviour, Christ, once entered into the holy place, by 
which he obtained everlasting redemption, &c. — Vide Strype's 
Memorials of Cranmer, b. ii., c. 7 ; and Wood's Fasti Oxoniensis, 
v. i., p. 51. 

3. Thomas Long occurs 1554. He was buried at Poole, 
Oct. 10, 1557. 

4. Simon Berwyke was then appointed. 

He had been previously a monk in the abbey at Cerne. 

5. John Seywarde succeeded in 1559. 

6. Matthew Haviland served the cure, under the lease 
granted to him in 1566. 

The preaching of Haviland appears to ^have. been obnoxious to the 
town, as the mayor and others procured for him, June 12, 1570, 
from the treasurer of the cathedral of Wells, who was patron of the 
perpetual vicarage of Martock, the presentation to the said vicarage 
for one term, conditionally that the then incumbent should resign 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

the same, at the ensuing Christmas. On the resignation of the 
incumbent, at Christmas, however, Haviland declined acceptance 
of that vicarage ; and it is said that he was thereupon deprived. 

7. Robert Ryckman was nominated in the room of 
Haviland. 

8. Robert Fossey succeeded him in 1580. 

9. Richard Marcan was nominated in 1581, on the 
resignation of Fossey. 

10. William Hiley was nominated in 1582. He was 
buried June 22, 16! 1 ; and was succeeded by 

11. Nicholas Jeffery, who was buried March 9, 1624. 

12. Henry Anketel, on the death of Jeffery. 

13. Swithin Cleeves, in 1630. 

He was at the same time, rector of Lytchett Matravers, having been 
instituted to that rectory 1615, and possessed of it until his death, 
1657. He had resigned the curacy of Poole, previous to his death. 

14. Josiah White, in 1642. 

He was nephew to the rev. John White, of Dorchester, who was 
conspicuous in the affairs of the Cromwellian rebellion. He died 
16-13, and was buried here, Nov. 10th of that year. 

15. John Gundv, in 1643, on the death of White. 

16. Owfield, in 1645. 

17. John Haddesley, on the resignation of Mr. Owfield, 
in 1647. 

He was nominated by Mr. Smithby, the then impropriator of the 
rectory. Mr. Haddesley was one of the divines ousted in 1650, 
by Cromwell, by whom he was imprisoned at Poole. He had 
£30 16s. allowed him out of lord Digby's estate, and died minis- 
ter of a dissenting congregation at Salisbury, 1699. 

On the ouster of Mr. Haddesley, from the perpetual curacy of Poole, a 
curious correspondence took place between the town and col. Rede, 
its military governor, (it being then garrisoned by the parliamentary 
forces,) who had endeavoured to force upon the town, a favourite 
of his own, Mr. Gardiner, as a curate. The inhabitants of Poole, 
however, determined to resist external interference, equally in 
ecclesiastical as in civil matters, objected to the nomination of Mr. 
Gardiner, and drew up the following petition, which was presented 
to Mr. Wm. Williams, then mayor, by major George Scutt, and 
Mr. Cromwell, on Monday, Dec. 30, 1650; on which the ensuing 
correspondence took place. 

" To the right worshipful the mayor, and aldermen of the towne 

and county of Poole. 
"The humble petition of the godly engaged party of the towne 
and county aforesaid. 



304 ecclesiastical history. 

"Right worshipful; We, the inhabitants of this towne and 
" members of Jesus Christ haveing more than probable grounds 
"that it is the designe of our military governourto impose Mr. 
" Gardiner to be the pastor or teacher over us, and knowing that in 
" the judgment both of the presbyterians and independents (the 
" same agreeing with reason, right justice, and primitive practize) 
" We togeather with you, have a right to call or obiect against him 
" that is to watch over vs, and haveing much to obiect against the 
" said Mr. Gardiner both in the poynts of practice and doctrine,—- 
" Doe humbly pray you, 

" 1st. That you would meete together and consider of this 
" our petition. 

" 2nd. That you would signify the matter of this our peti- 
" tion vnto our military governour. 

" 3rd. That you would (on your owne and our behalfe) 
" desyre the governour to forbeare to prosecute the designe of 
" Mr. Gardiner any further ; That soe we may not loose our right 
'* by the power of the sword ; but that all occasions of clashing 
" betwixt the military and civill power, the people and souldyery 
" of the garrison, may be prevented in the tyme of this comon 
" danger, and that we and they may in a way of loue soe walke 
" togeather as that we may ioin (as hitherto) cordially for the 
" preservation of this towne against the enemy. 

" 4th. That if the governour will not desist you would, 
" according to your and our right, oppose the said Mr, Gardiner 
"as a pastor and teacher over us. And we shall humbly pray, 
" &c." 

This petition was " subscribed vnto by about 6 skora 
and 12 hands." 

In consequence of this petition, the following letter was sent to the 
governor : — 

" Honoured sir,— We haveing received a petition from the 
" inhabitants of this towne, and vppon consideration of the matter 
" findeing it to be iust, reasonable, and godly, and knowing the 
" ground of their desyre is true; doe therefore in our owne and 
" the names of the petitioners desyre you that you would forbeare 
" any farther to prosecute the designe of haveing Mr. Gardiner 
" our pastor or teacher, and that you would forbeare by force to 
" impose him any more vppon vs that soe you and your souldiry 
" and we and our fellow townesmen may each of vs keep our 
" right and places and all of vs walk in a way of loue for the 
" security and defence of this garrison (for whose preservation 
" Godh'ath made vs much instrumental hitherto in tyme of danger 
" against all enemyes of this comon wealth) according to our 
" engagement. But if you will endeavour to sett Mr. Gardiner over 
" vs we then must tell you that it will be you and not we that 
" will cause a disturbance and diuision, and that we are resolued 
" to oppose the sayd Mr. Gardiner to the vttmost of our power 
*' according to the desyre of the people. We haue noe more, sir, 
" but to craue your answere in writing, and that we are, sir, your 
"humble servants 

" William Williams, mayor, 
" George Skutt, 
" Aron Durell, 
" The 30th of Dec, " Haviland Hiley, 

" 1650." « William Skutt." 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 306 

To this letter the governor sent the subjoined answer: 

" Gent ; — Yours of the 30th instant received, vnto which you 
" desyre my answere in writeing, I doe most willingly answere in 
" as much breuity as I may. And first I acknowledge that long 
" synce I did sett my hand vnto a certificate on the behalfe of 
" Mr. Gardiner, touching what he had beene (in general termes) 
" and how he had liued dureing the time of these late troubles, 
" vntil now, and for that the minister of your towne was outted 
" by a special order, and the people destitute of one to teach them, 
" did with others request that he might be authorized to exercise 
" his gifts as minister to this congregation, but in truth I never 
" did intend him for this worke any longer then one more meete 
" and answereable vnto your desyres and some others whom it 
" chiefly concerneth could be found out and settled among you, 
" yet in my judgment (whatsoever you or others doe yet imagine) 
" God is much to be admired for the gift of knowledg and vtter- 
" ance he hath bestowed vppon that man, if we consider seriously 
u the meane and low condition out of which he hath brought him, 
" and what haue we that we haue not receiued. Agayne you 
" desyre that I should forbeare by force to impose him any more 
" vppon you. I doe assure you that in this you take that for 
" graunted which never yet was donne. Yet if you hint at the 
" day when Mr. Gawping was procured by the maior to preach, 
" giue me leaue to tell you when the late thanksgiueing day 
" came, October 8th, to be obserued, Mr. maior (as his duty was) 
" prouided no man, but I was driuen to desyre Mr. Gardiner to 
" preach and gett the act published, and if he had not thaught, 
" then no man had, and of this the maior could be sylent as to 
" me. Therefore when I knew Mr. Hadsley was outted by 
** specyall order, I spake tymely enough to Mr. Gardiner to 
" preach the next Lord's day ensueing, and of which I sent the 
" maior notice on the Thursday before, yet he on the Friday (as 
" it seems) spake to Mr. Gawpin which shewes had his spirit 
" beene as quiett as it might be might (as well for that tyme) 
" have spared his labour, as on the 8th October. But this it 
" befalls men when selfe leades them and not righteous princi- 
" pies. Now such principles as are iust and righteous must be 
" the grounds on which the townsmen and souldyers must be 
" vnited, else our peace will not be lasting, but breake in the 
" midst of triall. Therefore, I declare, if euer any minister be 
" imposed vppon you, I shall haue no hand in it (knowing it to 
" be a truth manifested to those that believe) but rather shall 
" earnestly desyre that your vnderstandinge may be enlightned 
" and your hearts drawne forthe to choose vnto you such a pastor 
" as is both approued of God and all such godly men as desyre 
" that profession should be wayghed in the ballance of the sanc- 
" tuary, which is according to the rules of the scriptures, and thus 
" walkeing we may be sure that our hands shalbe strong against 
" all opposition, and we shalbe vnited as one man serueing the 
" Lord with one shoulder, and this comon wealth, in our seuerall 
" places with one consent, with truth and faithfullnesse, accord- 
(t ing to the engagement, This (if the Lord will) shalbe the reall 
" practize resolution and desyre of 

" deare friends, 
" yours & the comon wealth's 
" faythfull friend & seruant, 
" Poole, Dec. 13, 1650. " J. EEDE." 

2 R 



306 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY* 

" For the right wor'p'll 
" Mr. Wm. Williams, maior, 
" George Skutt, Aaron Durell, 
" Haviland Hiley, and William 
" Skutt, esquires, in Poole, these." 

The remonstrance of the town thus had full effect ; and Mr. Gardiner 
does not appear to have been ever established in the curacy. 

18. Thomas Thackham, in 1650, on the ouster of HacU 
desley. 

19. Samuel Hardy, in 1667. 

Mr. Hardy was a native of Frampton, Dorset, where he was born, 
1636. He appears to have been bred a nonconformist; for, 
although he studied atWadham college, Oxford, he was dismissed 
from the college because he would not take the oaths, when about 
to take the degree of M.A. He then went to Charminster, near 
Dorchester, which is a peculiar, belonging, at that time, to the 
family of the Trenchards, a branch of whom lived at Wolveton, 
close to Charminster. The minister there was, at that time, a 
kind of chaplain to that family ; he is neither rector nor vicar, nor 
does he take any institution or induction. Mr. Hardy continued 
in this place some years after the Bartholomew act, being pro- 
tected from the bishop's courts by its being a peculiar, and from 
the justices by the favour of the Trenchards, and by occasional 
conformity, reading the scripture sentences, the creed, command- 
ments, lessons, prayer for the king, &c. His moral character at 
this time appears to have been estimable ; and Calamy says, 
" Dr. Bridoke, the archdeacon, once came to Mr. Trenchard, and, 
after saying many good things of Mr. Hardy, began to persuade 
him that he might be instituted and inducted; which Mr. Trench- 
ard strongly opposed. Mr. Kent, this archdeacon's successor, 
had also a peculiar respect for Mr. Hardy, and proved his pro- 
tector. In this station Mr. Hardy, besides other good services, 
had an opportimity of doing something towards forming the minds 
of several young gentlemen in his patron's family; among whom 
was sir John Trenchard, who was afterwards secretary of state. 
He had a peculiar freedom in addressing persons of high rank, 
without anything of rusticity. When lord Brooke lay on his 
death bed, he went to him, and spoke to this effect: — "My lord, 
you of the nobility are the most unhappy men in the world; 
nobody dares come near you to tell you of your faults, or put you 
in the right way to heaven." Hereby he paved the way for 
dealing closely with his lordship, without giving him any offence. 
After Mr. Hardy had lived at Charminster a considerable time, 
the inhabitants of Poole invited him to that living, which was also 
a peculiar. He accepted of it, and there preached, prayed, and 
conversed, in the same manner as he did before. His sturdy 
nonconformity here appears to have been highly displeasing to the 
royalists; but this place also being freed from episcopal jurisdic^ 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 307 

lion, there was some difficulty in the way of procuring his removal- 
Several endeavours, however, were made to entrap him. One, 
says Calamy, by a person who desired him to baptize his child. 
If he had used the Common Prayer, the conformists would have 
gloried in gaining him. If he had not used it, they would have 
articled against him and got him out. But archdeacon Kent 
happening to come to the town that day, Mr. Hardy applied to 
him to baptize the child for him, who readily consented, and so 
for the present the storm blew over. At this time a member of 
parliament was to be chosen for Poole. The earl of Shaftesbury, 
then lord chancellor, was very urgent to have his son elected. 
Mr. Hardy opposed him, and Mr. Trenchard was chosen. The 
chancellor Avas incensed, and wrote a very angry letter to Mr. 
Hardy. When he went to London, he was advised to wait upon 
the chancellor, and make his peace ; which he accordingly did, 
and behaved himself so that the chancellor was very well pleased, 
and ever afterwards spoke respectfully of him. His notoriety and 
popularity were such at this time as to prove very offensive to the 
royalists of the neighbouring places in Dorset, and we accordingly 
find that, in 1681, the grand jury of that county made the follow- 
ing presentment on the subject to one of the judges of assize : — 

' k Item, — wee pr'sent the towne and county of Poole, within 
this county, beeing incorporated by charter, and a peculiar, 
governed, we feare, by a merceneary official, is a great hinderance 
to the execution of the lawes both civill and eclesiastical : all 

debtors flying thither for sanctuary from ,our county, 

as [to an] asylum; wiiich is further aggrevated in regard to y e 
[greal] number of the towns men all knowne to be ob[stynatt] 
opposers of his maj ts governm* influenced by the [seditious] preach- 
ing of one Samuell Hardy, an hired non-conformist preacher, who, 
for att least twelve yeares last past, hath made use of the church 
of y e said towne, as a conventicle, readeing little or none of y e 
litturgie of y e church of England; to whome multitudes of his 
maj ts disaffected subjects within this county doe constantly resort, 
the previledges of the said towne exempting the s d Hardy and 
them from punishment ; and therefore wee humbly beeseech yo r 
l d shipp to pr'sent this our great grievance to his maj 1 ^ and bee- 
seech him in his princely wisdom to think of some expedient for 
the redresse thereof." 

At the same time, too, a complaint was made to the king, by Allen 
Skutt and others, inhabitants of the town of Poole, setting forth 
that Hardy did not conform to the established church, inasmuch 
as he did not wear the surplice, omitted the sign of the cross in 
baptism, and did divers other things contrary to the rules of the 
church of England. In consequence of this presentment and 
complaint, a commission was issued to enquire into the matter, 
and the allegations being fully proved, Hardy was ousted by the 
following decrees ; which, as such proceedings in royal peculiars 
have been rare, are subjoined at length :■ — 

" Charles II., by the grace of God, &c. To our beloved in 
Christ, the mayor and community of our town and county of 



308 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

Poole, -within our peculiar ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Canford 
Magna and Poole, in our county of Dorset i also to every one 
whom it may concern, the ministers, chaplains, curates, &c, of 
our church and chapel of Poole, in our jurisdiction of Canford, 
nominated and appointed hy our commissioners of the great seal, 
"before appointed in a certain matter of office against Samuel 
Hardy, minister of Poole, rightly to proceed against him for his 
manifest and incorrigible offences and disobedience* neglect of 
office, and not executing the same, contrary to the ecclesiastical 
laws of England, and canons, required in his oath made and sub* 
scribed at his admission into the said church, for the cure of souls 
of the inhabitants of Poole aforesaid : they do decree him to be 
deposed, removed, and deprived, by a definitive sentence, of all 
profits and emoluments from the church or chapel of Poole ; and 
the Said Samuel Hardy is hereby deprived according to noticej 
and the office is hereby declared vacant : lest the said church or 
chapel should be without a clerk for the cure of souls of the 
inhabitants of Poole, to administer spirituals, and administer the 
lawful rights within the same, we do, by the authority aforesaid, 
authorize them to meet and choose some fit and able man into the 
said church, &c, from the which the said Samuel Hardy is for 
ever deprived, &c. Dated 3rd of Aug., 34th of our reign, 1682." 

This was accompanied by the denunciation or declaration of the 
sentence to be done at Canford, as follows:— 

" Charles, &c.—To our beloved in Christ, the venerable 
. William Raven, clerk, of Great Canford, within our peculiar eccle^ 
siastical jurisdiction of Poole and Great Canford, in our county of 
Dorset, or his curate for the time being, SaluteminDeo. Whereas 
our commissioners against Samuel Hardy, do declare, pronounce, 
and decree, for his incorrigible offences and disobedience, neglect 
of office, &c, contrary to the ecclesiastical laws and canons of the 
church required, and oath subscribed, at his taking on him the 
cure of souls of the inhabitants of Poole, we do, by a definitive 
sentence, decree the said Samuel Hardy to be removed, deposed, 
and deprived from his office and function of the cure of souls, on 
any Lord's day or festival, and all profits and emoluments arising 
to him, and there publicly to be pronounced before the people, 
which you must do effectually, under pain of our contempt, and 
the penalty of the law; and what you have done in the premises 
ye are to certify to us, our commissioners, and those who are 
present/' Dated as above. 

On his ejectment, Mr. Hardy went to Badsley, where he continued 
two years, but met with much trouble for not conforming to the 
canons; after which he never preached in public again. He then 

became chaplain in the house of > Heal, esq., at Overy Hatch, 

in Essex. After spending two years in that situation, he went to 
/Newbury, in Berkshire, where he died, March 6, 1691, aged 54. 
He took great delight in doing good ; and, whilst at Poole, col- 
lected nearly £500, for the purpose of redeeming captives from 
slavery. His published works are ' A Guide to Heaven,* and 
'Advice to Scattered Flocks.' 

20. Robert Howson, in 1682, on the ouster of Hardy. 

21. John Russell, in 1685, on the resignation of Howson. 

He was appointed preacher at St. John's, Wapping, in 1691, and 
thereupon resigned the curacy of Poole. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 309 

22. James Hand, in 1691, on the resignation of Russell. 

23. William Churchey, in 1692, on the death of Hand. 
24 Daniel Hyde, in 1702, on the death of Churchey.^ 

25. John Conant, in 1705, on the resignation of Hyde. 

26. Christopher Derby, in 1720, on the death of Conant. 

He Avas also rector of Hook, Dorset. 

27. Richard Derby, in 1734, on the death of his brother 
Christopher. 

Richard Derby was the eldest son of the rev. "William Derby, rector 
of Durweston* He was collated vicar of Turnworth, Sep. 1, 1716, 
and was afterwards vicar of Hilton, and minister of Poole. He 
died 1748. In 1717, he printed an assize sermon from Ps. cxxii. 6. 

28. John Culme, M.A., in 1748, on the death of Rich- 
ard Derby. 

He was a fellow of Wadham college; and besides holding the perpetual 
curacy of Poole, was vicar of Old Cleeve, Somerset, and rector of 
More Critchell, Dorset. He died in 1755. 

29. William Nairn, Oct. 15, 1755, on the death of 
Culme. 

Mr. Nairn was also vicar of Hindon, Wilts. 

30. Samuel Fawconer, June 29, 1767, on the death of 
Nairn. 

31. William Davis, Feb. 25, 1788, on the death of 
Fawconer.-}- 

32. Peter William Jolliffe, M.A., May 4, 1791, on the 
resignation of Davis. 

* On the vacancy in the cure occasioned by the death of Churchey, sir William 
Phippard and the surviving feoffees named in the deed of 1692, claimed as such the 
right of nominating the curate, and appointed the rev. Mr. Mayo. The corporation, 
however, appointed the rev. Mr. Hyde, who was licenced by the official : on which 
an appeal was entered in the high court of delegates, and sundry proceedings were 
undertaken, and a great number of witnesses were examined under a commission 
issued for the purpose ; but judgment was never pronounced, the matter being 
dropped by the appellants. 

+ It was on the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr. Fawconer, that the legal 
proceedings took place spoken of p. 296. 



310 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 



THE CHURCH 



stands near the western extremity of the towm It is dedi- 
cated to St. James, and was anciently, as before stated* a 
chapel of ease to Canford, though for several ages it has 
been an independent church. It is surrounded by a spa- 
cious churchyard, and stands on the site on which for seven 
centuries, the successive generations of the inhabitants of 
Poole have worshipped at the altars of their God. The 
present edifice, which has been erected of late years, 
replaced an ancient and venerable structure, consisting of 
a body, two aisles, and a tower ; with a chancel divided 
only from the higher end of the body by rails. The body 
was the most ancient part of the building, and was the old 
chapel of St. James. The south aisle was of equal length 
with the body, and thought, by many merchants' marks 
and devices on the north side, to have been built about the 
time of Edward IV. The north aisle was built about the 
year 1500, at the charge of James Haviland and Helena 
his wife, as appeared by an inscription over one of the 
arches. In 1509, John Bedford willed to be buried in the 
cemetery of St. James's church, in Poole, and gave £10 to 
it. In 1517, William Mesurer, of this place, appointed his 
body to be buried in our lady aisle, in this parish church, 
if he died here ; and bequeathed, to the making of the new 
rood-loft and tower of the said church, all such money as 
rested unpaid at the hour of his death of the £20 he pro- 
mised to the edifying this fabric. From this it would 
appear that the " handsome tower and cupola," which had 
been descried by the Spanish invaders under Pero Nino a 
century before, were then about to be re-edified. 

Several altars were anciently founded in this church, 
dedicated to different saints, and each served by a separate 
priest. 

At the time of the reformation, this church was rich in 
plate, ornaments, vestments, &c, as we find from an 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 311 

inventory, dated Nov. 30, 1545 : — 

" McT that one the laste daye of Nowe'byre and in the xxxvij yer of 
the rayne of kinge Henry the viij th and in the yer of oure lord 
God 1545, a invytory takyn owte of all jewellys and orneme'ts 
helongy'g to the churche of Pole, in presens of Thomas Whyt the 
eldyr then beyng mayr, Rychard Havyland, Wyly'm Havyland, 
and Thomas Gylleford, then beynge one of the churche wardens 
for y l yere. In primis 

A gret chaless* for the hye awter dowbull gylte. 

It' a nother small chaless for the hye awter for eu'y daye. 

It' mor i chales for seynt Gorges awterf dowbull gylt. 

It' mor i c-hales p'sell gyltt yt Richard Havyla'ds preste sy'vyth w^all. 

It' mor yt daye i chales p'sell gyltt yt Thomas Whytts preste sy'vyth 
w*all. 

It' mor yt daye i chales p'sell gyltt yt sir Tailar^ sy'vyth w tll all. 

Md' yt Wylya' Bedylcome & Jamys Mesnrer owt' a chales p'sell gyltt 
yt Wyll'm Mesewrer lost of the churche when he was robbyd. 
S'ma vij chales. 

Md' yt one yt daye was of y e churche store a fayre crosse dowbull 

gyltt e'amelyd w th a Mary and John. 
It' mor ther ys a small crosse of sylwer for eu'y daye. 
It' mor a payr of ca'styckes of sylwer p'sell gyltt. 
It' mor ij pyxe§ of syluer p'se' gyltt. 
It' ij sensers|| of syluer p'sell gyltt. 
It' i oyle vate of sylw'r. 

It' i schyppU of sylwer to put in fronkensensse in. 
It' i spone of sylwer to put yn y e sensse to sensse w* all. 
It' a pyxe of sylwer to put ye sakyrme't yn dowbull gyltt. 
It' mor a smaler pyxe of sylwer dowbull gyltt to bear the sakyrme't 

in. 



* It appears that a chalice as well as a priest was appropriated to each altar. 

+ The altar belonging to the fraternity of St. George^ of which a particular notice 
will be given in a future page. 

X Brysse Tailar, a priest. One who has taken his first degree in the university is, 
in the academical style, called Dominus, and, in common language, was anciently 
termed Sir. 

\ The pixes, or little chests in which the consecrated host was kept, were fre- 
quently enchased, and otherwise ornamented, in a very costly manner. From this 
word is derived a ludicrous expression, still used by the lower orders, viz., "please 
the pigs." The Romanists were much addicted to adjuration, and frequently trans- 
ferred their prayers from the consecrated host to its receptacle: thus their "if it 
please the pix," was synonymous with the more modern ejaculation " if it please 
God ;" and when, after the reformation, the pix fell into general disuse, the expres- 
sion became easily corrupted into the above vulgarism. 

|] Censers. Vessels to burn frankincense in. 

IT A small vessel, in the shape of a boat, to hold the frankincense. 



312 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

It 5 mor ther ys hongy'g ou'r ye canopy of the lesse pyxe xix belly s of 

sylwer dowbull gyltt. 
It' ther ys mor ij old crossys of brasse. 

Also ther ys mor yt daye 'longy'g to y e churche a sewt of vestments* 

sett w th peril the hole sewt. 
Also mor yt daye a sewte of vesteme'ts sett with goolde named 

bottekynf. 
It* a sewte of blewe felevat in browdryd. 
It' a sewte of rede felevat in browdryd. 

It' a sewte of why t damask wth f gold. 

It' a sewte of grene bawdekyn geven by Denyse Mesewr'. 

It' a sewt of old bawdekyn sylk. 

It' a sewt of black damaske. 

It' a cope:}; of blew tyssewe. 

It' a cope of rede felevat. 

It' iiij copyss of rede damaske. 

It' iiij copyss of blewe damaske. 

It' vj copys of whyt bodekyn. 

Also a sewte of awter clothes§ of rede felevet w th shalappe schells, for 

the hye awter, wth ij curtey's|| of rede sylk. 
It' also a sewte of awter clothys of bawdekyn sylke wth jj curtey's. 
It' a sewte of awter clothys of whyt sylk w*h ij curtey's. 
It' for seynt Gorge's awter a sewt of awter clothys of damask blewe 

and rede. 
It' a sewt of awter clothys for our lady's awter of damask. 
It' a corporesse cassell of cloth of goolde. 
It' a nother corporesse casse of cloth of tesewe. 
It' a nother corporesse casse of blewe felevat. 



* The garment particularly called the vestment, is the chasuble, casula, or planeta, 
an outer vestment, pulled over the head and cut open at the sides to the shoulder, 
which the priest wears at mass. 

i Baudkyn, bodkin, &c, was a peculiar kind of rich embroidery of silk and gold. 

t The cope, cappa, called also pluviale, used for the choir service and ceremonials. 
It resembles in its shape a large and flowing cloak, open in the front, and fastens on 
the breast by clasps. The copes were of various colours and materials. 

? The altar cloth is often called in the English MS. • frontell.' The embroidery of 
scallop shells was very appropriate in a maritime port, and, probably, had reference 
to the armorial bearings of the town. 

|j The curtains here mentioned were to cover the tabernacle. 

tt Pockets for the corporals. The corporals were the cloths on which theeucharist 
was laid at the altar ; they were always made of fine linen, and were considered so 
sacred, that they must not be touched by lay hands, and were never even washed, but 
when old and dirty were burned. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORV. 313 

It' iij baneres* of sylke for the crossys, i grene, i blewe, and i rede. 
It' iij pelowsf of sylke, and a nother pelow wrot w th sylk. 
It' another pelowe of ca'vas. 

The co'tent yt daye of clothys for the awter. 

It' iij schetts fyne for to dress the sppulcore on good fryday. 

It' i fyne awter clothe playne. 

It' mor ix awter clothys playne good and bad as they were. 

It' a xj dyapier clothys nara'd awter clothys. 

It' x tewellys j of dyapur. 

It' for the lent tyme iij awter clothys to honge aboue and beneth of 

playne cloth furnyshyd w th crossys of the same cloth. 
It' a uayle to be hongyd vppo' y e lent afor y e hye awter. 
It' for iiij awters, iiij payre and i canne styckes of latyn§. 
It' mor ij small canne of latyn beynge but pryckes. 
It' ther ys vj canne styckes w th bra'chys of latyn yt stode afor ymages. 
It' ij latyn basons and iij basons of pewter. 
It' mor a lampe of latyn and a bason of latyn for the paskals. 
It' a fote of laty' to sett y e crosse a pone the hye awter. 
It' a gret panne of a x galons. 
It' a brason crock w th iij leggys. 
It' a lytell panne of a petell. 

It' a tewell to couer the crosse & the pelow in y e sepulcor y e good 
fryday. 

It' a nother tewel to bere in the Esterholy dayys. 

It' a nother tewell of rede sylke to carry the oylc vatte at Ester." 

Other inventories, made about the same time, contain 
nearly the same particulars ; but there occur occasionally 
some additional items : — viz., 

" It' over the hye awter a canapye|| of redde sattyn in that a pyxe of 

yverye. 
" It' a pawlelT of blew felevat. 
" It' y e albes** longy'g to ye vestements saving iiij albes lackynge 

and worne. 



* Banners were used in procession, on vigils and fasts, appended to the crosses. 

+ These pillows were cushions of silk for the high altar, to rest the mass hook upon. 

t Towels. The altar linen for various purposes. 

5 Candlesticks of latten ; an alloy of copper and zinc. 

|| The canopy cloth was borne over the eucharist on solemn processions, as on the 
feast of Corpus Christi, and in visitations to the sick. 

IT Altar-palls, to cover the altar, were of silk, velvet, &c, and either white, red, 
green, blue, or black, according to the festival day or office which was celebrated. 

** The alb is a white linen garment worn by the priests, deacons, and sub-deacons, 
reaching down to the feet, and tied round the neck and at the wrists, and gathered 
by a girdle round the waist. 

2 S 



314 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, 

" It' iiij surplises for the pristes and clarkes. 
" It' ij cros staues* armyd with bras. 
" It' ij pay re of orgains. 
" It' more in ye church towre iiij bellis. 

" Item ther ys one side of one ylle of our churche couered w th ledd 
and two goters w ch we estyme to be 4 tons." 

From a note appended to one of the inventories, we 
learn that the greater part of the plate and several of the 
bells had been disposed of at their utmost value ; and that 
the proceeds had been applied, by command of the lord 
protector Somerset, in many charges and reparations done 
upon the fortifications of the town, such plate and bells 
having been given to the town for that purpose " by my 
lord's grace at his being in Poole." 

By an instrument [dated Jan. 9, 7th Ed. VI.] executed 
by the commissioners of church goods, for the county of 
Dorset, it appears that there were reserved for the use of 
the church of Poole, one chalice weighing 12 ounces, and 
two bells in the tower, weighing by estimation 6 cwt ; and 
that the residue of the bells, &c, had been sold and 
employed " for the makyng of bulworks and dyches for 
the defence of the said towne." 

But notwithstanding the church had been thus denuded 
of its rich store of plate, vestments, and other goods, at 
the period of the reformation, yet, on the re-introduction of 
popery during the reign of Mary, many of the articles 
necessary in the popish ceremonials were again procured, 
as is found from the following inventory taken in the 2nd 
year of Elizabeth's reign : — 

"Poole; beinge a peculiar, and of late belonginge to the pryorye of 
of Brad'stoke. 

" A newe inventorye indented of all suche belles, bookes, goodes, 
jewelles, and ornaments, as belonge and apertayne to the church 
of Poole, w th the names and surnames of all suche as hathe benne 
crystened, maryed, and buryed, sythens the feast of St. John the 
baptyste, in anno d'ni 1558, made and presented to the quene's 
ma ties comyssyon's at Blandforde, the xxviij daye of November, 
anno d'ni 1559. 



* Staves to which the cross was affixed when borne in processions. 



■'/- - ■ ■ , ~\ 




ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 



315 



" Goodes. — Item one lytell challyce wthout a cover, of sylver, weinge 
vj ownces, w th servethe for the communyon table. One greate 
bell and a lytell bell] weinge by estymac'on vij c. One peare of 
vestments of satten of Brydges, and one cope of the same. One 
crosse. One peare of sensers, and one shippe of brasse. ij 
lynnen clothes wch s'vethe for the communyon table. 

" BooJces. — Item one massebook* ; one manuelf ; one grayle j ; and 
one precessyonall§. 

" Our images be all defaced and brente. 

" Xristened lxj persons [whose names are given]. 

" Buryed the nomber of one c & v p'sons. 

'•' Maryed xxix couples [named]. 

" The administrac'on of the sacram'ts are decently p'paryd for accor- 
dynge to the boke of comon prayar and the quene's ma'ties 
injunc'ons. 

" The quene's ma'tie ys patron of the p'sonage of Poole. John 
Sewar ys mynistar and servythe the cure. 

" The nu'bre of peoj)le be one thousand." 

On the 3rd of May, 1663, a service of plate, &c, for the 
communion table was presented by an unknown person* 
This was stolen from the church on the 6th of November 
following, and an Irishman was committed to gaol on sus- 
picion of being concerned in the sacrilege, but soon after- 
wards, and before he could be brought to trial, he died in 
prison ; and it was conjectured at the time that his death 
was occasioned by poison. The plate was never found. 

THE PRESENT CHURCH 

was erected on the site of the old structure, and opened for 
divine worship in 1820||. It is a large and commodious 

* Missals, containing the order of celebrating mass, with the proper masses of 
particular saints. 

-t Manual, the ritual, containing all things belonging to the sacraments, sacra- 
mentals, and benedictions. 

t Graduals. The gradual takes its name from the prayer chaunted gradatim, after 
the epistle. It is the choir book used for singing mass. 

i Books of the order and service for the ecclesiastical processions. 

II This church was erected at the cost of £9010 ; of which the parish voted £6000, 
the corporation gave £1000, and private subscriptions amounted to £2010. The 
tower, which was also rebuilt, cost £2730 ; making a total of £11,740. 



316 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

edifice, consisting" of a nave and two aisles, with a small 
chancel ; but it possesses little or no architectural beauty. 
At the west end is a tower, in which are eight bells. The 
principal entrance to the church is by a vestibule leading 
through the tower, having the vestry on the one hand and 
the sunday school room on the other. The appearance of 
the interior of the church, on entering it, is very pleasing, 
and derives much effect from the large and lofty east 
window, which is of painted glass, representing Faith, 
personified in a female figure, kneeling on the cross, with 
the open bible and the cup of the new testament before 
her, suppliantly gazing upwards, whence a flood of light is 
poured on her. The window is divided by two mullions, 
and this painting occupies the centre compartment. The 
ceiling, which is supported by lofty but inelegant columns, 
is neatly groined. A spacious gallery runs round the 
church, excepting at the east end. The pulpit, reading 
desk, &c, are elegantly constructed of oak. In the chan- 
cel, underneath the east window, is an altar piece of rich 
mahogany, and of elaborate workmanship. It is divided 
into three compartments by fluted pilasters of the Corinth- 
ian order standing on a pedestal, and supporting an 
entablature with a sculptured frieze. The central compart- 
ment, which is the largest, is surmounted by a pediment. 
In this compartment are inscribed the Decalogue, and the 
following record of the donation of the altar piece : " The 
Gift of Richard Pinnel, esq., A.D., 1736. Repaired and 
Beautified, A.D., 1820." In the north compartment are 
the Lord's Prayer, and Proverbs, xix, 17: and the 
Apostles' Creed, and Psalm, xli, 1, occupy the south 
division. The embroidered cloth for the communion 
table was presented to the church, in 1821, by Miss JefFery. 
In the west gallery is a large, powerful, and richly toned 
organ, presented to the church, in 1799, by Benjamin 
Lester, esq., who, at the same time, vested in the public 
funds a sum of money producing £20 per annum, which 
he appropriated as a salary for an organist, appointing the 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 317 

corporation to be the trustees. In the front of the same 
gallery is a clock, the gift of James Seager, esq. ; over 
which is a sculpture of the royal arms of England, pre- 
sented by G. W. Ledgard, esq., both in 1821. There are 
several brass chandeliers, for lighting the church, chiefly 
presented at various periods, by representatives of the 
borough. 

All the monuments now in the church are mural, several 
of them possessing much elegance. There was an altar 
tomb in the old church, to the memory of Thomas Robarts, 
a merchant, who was a considerable benefactor to the 
town ; but it was removed at the demolition of that struc- 
ture. The monumental inscriptions in the present church 
are as follows : — 

IN THE SOUTH AISLE. 

" Underneath lyes the Body of 

George Lewen, Esqre., 

a worthy member 

and three years mayor of this 

antient corporation. 
Obt. 15th November, 1718, 
^Etatis sua?, 71." 
Above are the arms of Lewen, party per pale, g. & az. 3 bucks* 
heads erased, or. Crest, a buck's head erased, or. 



" To the Memory of 
Sir Peter Thompson, knt., a native of Poole, and member of its 
ancient corporation, F.R.S., member of ye Society of Antiquaries, Lon- 
don, and was representative in parliament for the borough of St. Albans. 
He died 31st Oct., 1770, aged 72 years. 

Also, 

Amy Haselden, his only sister, 

who died 27th Oct., 1770, 

Aged 65 years. 

James Thompson, 

of London, Merchant, 

who was born in this town V. IVN, MDCLXXXVII, and died VIII 

Mar., MDCCXL. And Thomas Haselden, F.R.S., head master of the 

Royal Academy at Portsmouth, who married Amy, the only sister of Mr. 

Thompson, and died XXV April, MDCCXL, aged LV, were buried 

here together, XVII May, MDCCXL." 

Above are the arms of Thompson ; — az. a lion passant guardant or. 
• Crest, a lion rampant or., with a ducal coronet round his neck. 



318 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY* 

" This Monument 
To the Memory of the Rev. Samuel Fawconer, M.A. 

late vicar of Osmington, 

and twenty years minister of this Parish, was erected 

Aug. 27, 1 778, by Martha, his surviving widow. 

He was a man of strong Genius, 

sound Erudition, and of just Taste. 

His determined perseverance in the discharge 

of his Parochial Duties 

was such as commanded Respect. 

He died January the 23rd, 1788, in the 61st year of his t 

His remains, and those of his first wife, 

Elizabeth, daughter of sir Sebastian Swale, bart., 

lie buried in the opposite isle. 

Also of Martha Fawconer, widow of the above 
Samuel Fawconer, who died 24th March, 1818." 



" To the Memory of 
Mr. John Masters, merchant of this town, whose tender affection to his 
Wife, sincerity to his Friends, liberality to the Poor, and general bene- 
volence to all mankind, rendered him universally esteemed. This Monu- 
ment was erected by his sorrowful relict, as a Token of her everlasting 
love for him. He died in London, June 20, A.D., 1755, in the 64th year 
of his age, and lies buried near this place." 



" In Memory of 

Francis Lester, alderman 

of this corporation, who died 

July ye 8, 1738, aged 70. 

Also, R ac hell, his wife, who died 

Jan. ye 21, 1768, aged 83, 

with Frans., Wm., Sarah, Susannah, 

and Rachell, five of their children. 

Also, John Lester, alderman of this 

corporation, and son of the 

above Francis Lester, who died 

August ye 28, 1775, aged 74. 

Also, Elizabeth, his wife, daughter 

of Wm. Goldwire, esq., who died 

Nov. ye_ 8, 1770, aged 84. 

Also, Isaac Lester, merchant, son 

of the above Fras. Lester, who 

died Sept. ye 20, 1778, aged 60. 

This Monument was erected 

. by Benjamin and Sarah 

Lester, the only 

surviving children. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 319 

Sacred to the Memory of Benjamin Lester, 

alderman, and late representative in parliament for this town, 

who died 25th January, 1802, aged 78 years. 

Also, of Susannah, his wife, who died 4th March, 1798, 

aged 76 years. 

And Susannah, their daughter, who died 14th 

February, 1778, aged 21 years. 

Also, of Sarah Lester, sister of the above 

Benjamin Lester, who died 5th February, 1785, 

aged 75 years. 

Sir John Lester, knight, 

died the 12th January, 1805, 

aged 50 years." 



" In Memory of 

George Tito, Esqre., 

merchant of this town, 

and Elizabeth, his wife, 

She died 4th August, 1767, aged 60, 

He died 23rd October, 1774, aged 70= 

Also, Elizabeth Brice, 

their daughter, 

wife of Edward Brice, Esq., 

who died 11th October, 1761, aged 31. 

This Monument was erected 

by George Tito Brice, 

sole surviving son of the above 

Edward and Elizabeth Brice." 



" Near this place 

lies the body of 

Peter Jolliff, 

Who, in the late wars, 

Signalized himself against the French with uncommon courage, 

And frequently revenged their insolencies towards the English 

by captivity or death. 

William the Third, 

In justice to the merit of so brave a man, 

Rewarded his services with a commission, and a medal of Gold: 

George the First, 

at his accession to the throne, 

Gave him the command of the town in all military affairs. 

Thus, having been distinguished by these two great kings, 

He dy'd, in the 72nd year of his age, 

On the 12th day of November, 1730. 



320 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

He left several children ; 

William, the youngest, 

caused this Monument to be erected to his Memory, 

On the 19th October, 1737. 

In Memory also of the above mentioned William Jolliff, 

(an alderman and a merchant of this town,) 

who died August the 7th, 1762, aged 64 years. 

And Elizabeth, his wife, 

who died January the 6th, 1747-8, 

aged 45 years. 

Whose bodies lie entombed 

near this place." 

Beneath are the arms of Jolliff: — s. a double-headed eagle expanded, 
ar. ; on a chief g. a lion passant, or. Crest an eagle's head erased s., 
beaked or. 



IN THE GALLERY OF THE SOUTH AISLE. 

" Sacred 

To the Memory of James Seager, merchant, 

an alderman of this town, who died 24th December, 1808, aged 71 years. 

Also, of Rebecca, his wife, who died 2nd March, 1821, aged 87 years. 

And of John and Sarah, their two infant children. 

Also, of Rebecca Noble, their daughter, 
who died at Malta, Svd May, 1808, aged 37 years. 

And of Amy Seager, wife of James Seager, 

(who caused this Monument to be erected). 

She died 22nd March, 1819, aged 41 years. 

Also, of Ursula Skutt Jubber Seager, second wife of the above 

James Seager, who died 4th January, 1825, aged 28 years. 

And of their infant child, James Gaden Seager, 

who, died 18th Nov., 1823." 



" Sacred to the Memory of Mary, 

wife of Robert Slade, merchant of this town and county, 

who died January 11, 1816, aged 45 years. 

Also, of Sarah, daughter of the above, 

who died April 12, 1807, in the 5th year of her age. 

Also, of Elizabeth Leer, another daughter of the above, 

(and wife of Robert Slade,) 

who died 9th February, 1829, aged 29 years." 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 321 

IN THE NORTH AISLE. 

" Sacred 

to the Memory of 

Mr. Robert Young, 

of this town, 

who died the 1st of January, 1773, 

aged 64 years, 

and lies buried in this aisle. 

Also, of 

Mrs. Ann Young, 

wife of the above Robert Young, 

who died the 2nd of December, 1775, 

aged 65 years : 

And is interred in a vault 

in the churchyard of 

Isleworth, 

in the county of 

Middlesex." 



" To the Memory of 

Mr. Geo. Hyde, merchant, 

and alderman of this town ; 

and Elizth. his wife. 

She died Aug. 31, 1762, 

aged 55 years. 

He died May 11, 1763, 

aged 58 years. 

This was erected by their 

sole surviving, son, 

Thos. Hyde." 



" Sacred to the Memory of 

Thomas Jubber, merchant, late of this town and county, 

who died the 12th of September, 1778, aged 56 years. 

And whose remains are deposited near this place. 

Also, of Robert and Thomas Jubber, sons of 

the above Thomas Jubber, who both died abroad. 

Also, of Ursula Jubber, wife of the above Thomas Jubber, 

who died the 26th of June, 1793, aged 66 years. 

Also, of Ursula Jubber, daughter of the above 

Thomas and Ursula Jubber, who died the 6th of Feb., 1797, 

and at whose particular request this Monument 

was caused to be erected. 

Eternal Joys are in reserve for the righteous. 

Also, to the Memory of Benjamin Skutt Gaden, 

son of Thomas and Mary Gaden, 

2 T 



322 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

who died March 9, 1820, in the 21st year of his age. 
His modest worth secured him the esteem of all who knew him, and his 
Death is deplored by his Family as a loss never to be repaired. This 
humble Stone is erected by them as a lasting Monument of the warmest 
affection. His remains are deposited in the church yard." 



" Sacred 

To the Memory of William Spurrier, 

an alderman and merchant of this town, 

who died the 20th of March, 1809, 

aged 75 years. 

Also, of Mary, his wife, who died at Bath, 

July 27, 1781, aged 52 years, 

and who lies buried in Walcot church in that city. 

Also, of William Spurrier, son of the above 

William and Mary, 

who died April 18, 1800, aged 37 years." 



" In Memory of 

Egbert Henning, merchant, 

an alderman of this corporation : 

He was 

A generous and faithful Friend, 

A tender Husband, 

An indulgent Father, 

A lover of his Country, 

and a Friend of Mankind. 

He died May 30, 1757, aged 60. 

Here also lies Margaret, his wife, 

who died Feb. 17, 1736, aged 36. 

With George, Edward, and Margaret, 

three of their children. 

Margaret, a grandchild, daughter 

of Robert and Mary Henning. 

This Monument was erected by 

John and Robert Henning, 

the surviving sons." 



" In Memory 

of Sir William Phipard, knight, 

who represented the town and county of 

Poole in Parliament. 

He departed this life, Jan. 23, 1723, aged 73. 

And of Dame Mary, his wife, 

who died May 1, 1725, aged 44. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 



323 



Also, of George Phipard, their son, 
who died Aug. 28, 1739, aged 24. 

Also, of Elizabeth Phipard, their grandaughter, 

■who died Feb. 4, 1767, aged 17. 

Also, of John Phipard, another son 

of the above named Sir Wm. and Dame Mary, 

and father of the said Eliz. Phipard, 

who died April 10, 1774, aged 63 ; 

Having by his will ordered this Monument 

to be erected. 

Near this place lie the remains of Eliz., wife 

of William Cleeves, late merchant of this town, 

daughter of the above named 

Sir William and Dame Mart Phipard, 

who died March 31, 1769, aged 55. 

Also, of William Phipard, esq., eldest son 

of the above named Sir William and Dame Mary, 

who died Dec. 27, 1788, aged 80 years." 



" The Souls of the Just are in the hands of God." 

Samuel Bowles died March 2, 1750, aged 44 years. 

Mary, his first wife, 

daughter of the Rev. Benjamin Culme, A.M., 

Rector of Studland, 

died March 21, 1746, aged 35 years. 

Margaret, his second and surviving wife, 

(who subsequently married the Rev. Thomas Coker, 

A.M., rector of Mappowder,) 

died in 1789, aged 84 years. 

Amy, the sister of the said Margaret, 

and the widow of Isaac Lester, 

an eminent merchant of this place, 

died August 6, 1788, aged 84 years. 

The above Margaret and Amy 

were two of the daughters 

of the Reverend Matthew Bowles, A.M., 

formerly rector of Corfe Castle. 

Elizabeth Tivirtoe, 

sister of Mr. Samuel Bowles, 

died April 7, 1788, aged 7S years. 

Hoc Monumentam renovari curabit Carolus Bowles de Shaston, 
Armiger, A.D., 1825 . 



324 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

IN THE GALLERY OF THE NORTH AISLE. 

" Erected by the Brethren of the most 

ancient and venerable order of Free 

and accepted Masons, resident within 

the Province of Dorset, to commemorate 

the private worth of their respected 

Brother, Thomas Parr, of this town, 

as well as the Benefit conferred 

by him on Masonry. He was 

Deputy Provincial Grand Master' 

during 22 years, and died 

the 22nd of May, 1824, aged 56 years." 

It is a subject for regret that many of the more ancient 
monumental inscriptions, which were contained in the old 
church, several of them being records of individuals and 
families conspicuous in the early annals of the town, were 
not preserved within the walls of the new structure. 

Divine service is performed and a sermon preached 
three times on every Sunday, in the church, viz., at half- 
past ten, at three, and at six o'clock. The church is also 
open for divine service every Wednesday and Friday. The 
Sunday evening lecture is provided for by a bequest of sir 
John Lester, who, by his will, in 1805, bequeathed, for this 
purpose, a sum of money invested in the funds, of which 
the corporation were appointed trustees, directing the 
proceeds thereof to be applied in the following propor- 
tions : — £52 per annnm for the minister ; £10 for the 
clerk ; £10 for the organist; and £5 for the sexton. 

The rev. P. W. Jollhfe, M. A., at present holds the 
perpetual curacy ; and the rev. W. M. Dudley, B.A., is 
the assistant curate. 

The churchyard having been fully occupied by inter- 
ments, a piece of garden ground adjoining was purchased 
in 1773, in trust for the parish, and subsequently enclosed 
as a burying ground. This also having been found 
insufficient for the purpose, a large field atHungerhill was 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 325 

purchased for the parish. It was enclosed, and, on the 
3rd of July, 1781, was consecrated by Dr. Beilby Porteus, 
then bishop of Chester, afterwards bishop of London, and 
has since been used as a burying ground. 

The parsonage house, which adjoins the churchyard, 
was rebuilt by the corporation in 1786. 



THE FRATERNITY OF ST. GEORGE. 

We have already seen that in the church of Poole, prior 
to the reformation, there were four altars, of which one 
was dedicated to St. George. This altar belonged to the 
members of the fraternity of St. George, which formerly 
existed in Poole, and which was exclusively a religious 
foundation. 

Fraternities were ' of two species, secular and religious. 
The secular guilds or fraternities were the root of our 
present mercantile and trading companies or corporations ; 
and were associations founded for the purposes of mutual 
defence and protection, and the advancement of trade. 
The religious fraternities, on the other fiand, were estab- 
lished for purposes of devotion and alms-deeds. They 
formed a branch of those ecclesiastical establishments, 
taking their foundation in the palmy days of the papacy, 
by which its power was sought to be extended, and through 
the instrumentality of which not only was subsistence 
afforded to the multitudes who, allured by the prospect of 
a life of ease, and by the pomp and sanctity with which the 
papal priest was invested, eagerly strove for the sacerdotal 
office, but means were afforded for bringing the wealth 
and influence of the laity to assist in the great work of 
papal aggrandizement. These establishments took the 
various forms in which they have been found,— from the 



326 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

stately and opulent abbey and priory, down to the more 
humble fraternity and chantry, and even to the lowly cell. 

A devotional fraternity partook considerably of the 
nature of a chantry. Now a chantry was an altar set apart 
in a parochial or other church, and endowed with certain 
property, on condition of masses, obits, anniversaries, 
lights, &c, being* performed or attended to. Their 
nature is very particularly described in the will of John 
Barton, of Buckingham, by which he appoints and endows 
a chantry in the church of St. Peter, in Buckingham^. 
Fraternities appear to have been an enlargement of this 
principle, and to have been incorporated associations to 
provide masses for the souls of deceased members and of 
those who had endowed the institution ; to sustain a con- 
tinually burning light before the altar of some particular 
saint ; to perform alms-deeds ; and to apply their funds to 
other religious and charitable purposes. 

The fraternity founded in Poole, and dedicated to Eng- 
land's patron saint, was clearly such an incorporation; 
reputative, however, rather than legal, for no charter of in- 
corporation can be found ; and although there existed many 
such fraternities without a strictly legal foundation, and 
which, consequently, were adulterine, yet they were 
suffered to remain until the dissolution of the monasteries, 
&c, where no distinction was observed between those 
legally founded and others which could not produce a 
charter of incorporation ; for a college or chantry in 
reputation, although it wanted sufficient foundation and 
incorporation in law, was given to the king by the act 1st 
Ed. IV., c. 14, because, we are told by Coke, the intent of 
the makers of the act was to take away all superstition out 
of men's minds, and not to suffer any to have continuance; 
and superstition was maintained as well in reputative 
chantries as in others. 



Coke, Rep., ii,, 07. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 3*27 

The fraternity of St. George was, in all probability, 
founded in the latter portion of the fourteenth century ; as 
the earliest document of a donation to it, and which 
is numbered 3, bears the date of Sep. 20, 1408. The 
property with which it was originally endowed must 
have been very, small, but the society became subse- 
quently possessed of property of considerable value, by the 
piety of successive donors, who, under the influence of 
that comfortable superstition for the rich, invented by the 
papists, thought, bv purchasing the posthumous masses of 
the good priests, that they should escape, in a future 
world, impunity for the sins committed during life. In 
the coffer of the church of St. James, the brethren kept a 
register of the donations made to them. This cannot now 
be found, and was probably taken away when the possess- 
ions of the fraternity were surrendered. But there are in 
existence amongst the municipal archives, several loose 
papers, which are clearly the copy of a considerable por- 
tion of this register, or, at least, of some of the deeds of 
gift entered therein. From circumstances mentioned in 
some notes appended to this copy, it is manifest that it was 
made between the years 1548 and 1558. This document 
is in a very dilapidated condition, besides being deficient 
in several leaves ; yet we are enabled to form some idea of 
the extent of the possessions of the fraternity, bv the exist- 
ing papers, of which the following is an abstract. They 
are all numbered in the margin, and the first in order is 3. 
[3.]— John Pryker, by his will, dated Sep. 20, 1408, 
bequeaths to the wardens of the fraternity of St. George, 
a rent charge of 20d. per annum, arising from a piece 
of land and two houses. 
[4.]— Alicia Stowey, also by will, dated Sep. 17, 1460, 
gave a rent charge of 3s. 4d., arising from a piece of 
land. This rent charge was, in 1526, redeemed by the 
payment of £3 13s. 4d., by Philippin, the wife of Davy 
Green, to Stephen Reek and William Gcll, wardens of 
the brotherhood of St. Georsre. 



328 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

[5.] — Walter Haron and Eleanor, his wife, of Sherford, 
Hants, 20th January, 1529, by deed of gift, conveyed 
a garden adjoining' the house called the Almshouse. 

[6.] — Margaret Emmett, widow, gave, in mortmain, to 
John Mower and John Skynner, keepers and wardens 
of the light or fraternity of St. George, a piece of land 
(s. d.) As this copy is the most perfect, we give it 
entire, to shew the customary form of the donations : — 

" Bee ytt knowen to all men present & to them that 
bee to come I Margaret Emmett in my pure wydow- 
hode and lawffull powre in the towne of Pole in the 
shier of Dosshet, have gyven and graunted and by thes 
my present charytye confyrmed to John Mower and to 
John Skynner kepers & wardens of the light and fra- 
ternytye of St. George in the church of St. James's in 
the towne of Poole aforesayd And to ther successors 
for the time beinge a pece of my londs with all his por- 
tenance ther to longinge lyinge wythyn the libertye of 
the towne aforesayd, betwyxt the lond of Maud Libott 
of the west part and the lond of John Thomos of the 
Eest part And the king's waye by North and a lane 
callyd deerehayes lanne by South To have & to hold 
the foresayd pece of lond with his portenance unto 
the foresayd kypers & wardens to them and to ther 
successors for the tyme being in ffee for evermore 
under such conditions that the sayd pece of lond wyth 
his portenance shall never bee sold ne allyenyd by the 
sayd kepers & wardens nother by none of ther succes- 
sors ne ther assignes in ther name, but onlye all such 
profytts and revenews that groweth or maye growe of 
the sayd londs shall bee sett and imployed from yere to 
yere, by the supervise & gode guydinge of the sayd 
kepers and wardens unto the worshipp, lawde and 
praysinge of the gloryowse marter St. George & to the 
sustenacion of his service and light so everlastinglye to 
indure, yeldinge yerely to the chiefFe lorde of the ffee, 
rent and service thereof right accustomd And that the 
foresayd Margarett and myne heirs the foresayd pece 
of lond with all his portenance as is before rehersede to 
the foresayd kepers & wardens agaynst all worldly 
people warrantise and defend. In witnesse whereof J 
have registerd this my deede & entente in a book callyd 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, 329 

a register of all the lands & tenements & rents per- 
tainge & longinge unto the kepers & wardens of St. 
George, the which book remayneth & abydyth in the 
comon coffer beyng in the sayd church of Poole." 

[7.] — William Perry, alias Baker; a piece of land, called 
Horwood's land, to John Lypeman and John Thomas, 
wardens, &c. (s. d.) 

[8.] — Joan Schankys ; to Robert Cone and Robert Webbe, 
keepers and wardens, &c, an annual rent charge of 
6s. 8d., arising from a piece of land. (s. d.) 

[9.] — Edith Peres, widow; a piece of land to Stephen 
Howchyns and John Man, wardens, &c. (s. d.) 

[10.] — Edith Sampson, widow; shop, to Robert Johnson 
and Thomas Lacye, wardens, &c. (s. d.) 

[11.] — Harry Bosum ; a piece of land, to Robert Lambart 
and John Licsett, keepers and wardens, &c. (s. d.) 

The will of this Henry Bosum is still in existence, 
dated 31 arch 1, 1463, and proved in the court of the 
archdeacon of Dorset, on the 20th of the same month, 
in which he bequeaths, biter alia, to William Stowe 
and John Harrys, seneschals of St. George, and their 
successors, a piece of land, to be holden by them and 
their successors in perpetuity, conditioned that it should 
be disposed of to the laud and honour of St. George 
in the church of Poole. 

[13.] — Stephen Howchyns, alias Warner, a burgess of the 
town of Poole, grants his close called Windmill hill, to 
William Stowey and John Flexmore, seneschals, &c. 
(s. d.) 

[14.] — John Thomas, a burgess of Poole, grants a piece 
of land, called No Man's land, to John Stollock and 
William Boreville, seneschals, &c. (s. d.) 

[15.] — John Russell, alias Gosse, a burgess of the town of 
Poole ; an annual rent charge of 8d. on a tenement 
near the old town hall, to John Harris and John Brocke, 
keepers and wardens, &c. (s. d.) 

2 u 



330 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

[16.] — Alison Mower, widow, of Wimborne; an annual 
rent charge of Is. 4d. to John Colville and Thomas 
Baker, keepers and wardens, &c. (s. d.) 

[17.] — Thomasin Cotler, widow ; an annual rent charge of 
2s. to Robert Johnson and Thomas Coke, keepers and 
wardens, &c. (s. d.) This rent charge was afterwards 
redeemed by the payment of 40s. 

[18.] — Alison Barmevyll, by will (s. d.), bequeathed the 
proceeds of certain tenements to the fraternity. By 
this will she bequeathed to her husband a house, with 
a curtilege and garden, and another tenement and 
garden in west street ; with remainder to Isabell 
Burdon and her children ; but in case of her dying 
without issue, the first house and curtilage are directed 
to be sold, " and the mony that shalbe therof ymade 
I will that ytt be ordaynyd and disposed to fynd a 
convenyent and a discrett seculer priest to sing masses 
and all other services in the church of St. James the 
appostell of Poole by the spac of a hole yere for my 
sowle and for the sowle of John Payne [her former 
husband], John Barmevyll, Isabell Burdon, and all 
my kynryd and for all cristyan sowles:" and the 
tenement and garden in west street are also directed to 
be sold, " and the mony therof recevyd to bee devyded 
in two pts. that is to save the one halff of hytt to the 
worke and reparacyons of the church of St. James 
aforesaid, and the other halff to remayne to the frater- 
nytye of St. George in Poole, that they dispose ytt in 
charytable almes deeds for the wealth of our sowles." 

[19.]— Sir John Myller, priest; a garden, near a close 
called Dyer Hayes, to John Pysett and Robert de 
Hawden, wardens, &c, 4th April, 1484. 

[20.] — John House; a rent charge of 8d., to William 
Bourdevyll and Thomas Perkyn, keepers and wardens, 
&c, July 16, 1498. 

[21.] — John Deane; a tenement on the west shore, to 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 331 

Nicholas Chatte and Harry Pyke, keepers and wardens, 

&c, Sep. 24, 1500. 
[22.]— William Fillater; a close of land to the same 

wardens, Oct. 4, 1500. 
It will have been observed, that these documents are not 
numbered in chronological order. In several of these 
grants of land, Deer-hayes lane is said to be on one side of 
the property granted, and the land previously in the pos- 
session of the fraternity on the other side, and it is hence 
evident that the present burying ground and the adjacent 
lands were formerly the possessions of the society ; and 
this identity is confirmed by the concurrence of names. One 
of the pieces of land is stated in a conveyance of the pro- 
perty of the guild to be known as Mill Post, a name by 
which the present burying ground was commonly known 
till within a few years past. 

There is an ancient document in existence, purporting to 
be a rental of the lands given " to the chamber of the town 
of Poole," by the several persons therein named : it is 
without date, but must have been made previous to 1548. 
By this, the total amount of annual rent appears to have 
been £7 18s. 6d., the quit-rent payable thereout 6s. 10d., 
leaving a net rent of £7 10s. lOd. There is also an 
antecedent rental, dated in 1541, of the lands of "St. 
George's guild in Poole," which is evidently imperfect, 
but of which sufficient is existing to shew that the possess- 
ions are identical with those in the rental first named, and 
that the net rental was the same. 

The object which this guild professed chiefly to regard, 
was the safety after death of the souls of the faithful who 
had been members of, or had endowed the society. With 
this view, mass was constantly said in the chapel of the 
fraternity, and at the altar which they possessed and sup- 
ported in the parish church, and at which lamps were 
kept continually burning, and to which processions were 
made. As was customarily the case with such associations, 



332 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

charity was another main object of the fraternity ; and the 
atms houses in church street, which formerly appertained 
to the fraternity, were, in all probability, erected for the 
purpose of accommodating decayed members with resi- 
dences* The guild-chapel appears to have adjoined this 
alms row. Whether this guild exercised any authority in 
the civil affairs of the town, cannot now be satisfactorily 
ascertained, unless chance should bring to light those 
records of its existence which a diligent search has been 
unproductive in finding. There is, indeed, some reason to 
suppose, from several circumstances, that the fraternity 
exercised no such jurisdiction; but that the mayor of the 
town was, ex officio, the head of the fraternity ; and, as 
such, he appears to have taken part in the appointment of 
the priests. Thus, June 1, 1541, "John Ellys, mayor of 
the town of Poole, in the county of Dorset, & the comin- 
yaltie of the same," appoint sir Thomas Gogyn to " the 
service of St. George within the church of St. James, in 
Poole aforesaid," at an annual salary of £6 13s. 4d« 

When Henry VIII. attacked the papal establishments in 
this kingdom, the fraternities Were not exempt from visita- 
tion; and though their doom was somewhat delayed, it 
was, nevertheless, certain. In 1544, we read in Rap in, 
that " this year most part of the colleges, collegiate 
churches, and hospitals, were surrendered to the king, by 
acts and deeds seemingly voluntary, but which were no 
more so than those signed by the abbots and priors, when 
they resigned their monasteries." Tindal, in his note on 
this passage, says "there were in the kingdom several 
colleges, chapels, chantries, hospitals, and fraternities, con- 
sisting of secular priests, who enjoyed pensions for saying- 
mass for the souls of those who endowed them. Now the 
belief of purgatory being left indifferent by the doctrine 
set out by the bishops, and the trade of redeeming souls 
being condemned, it was thought needless to keep up so 
many endowments to no purpose. Those priests were 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 333 

generally ill attached to the king's proceedings, since their 
trade was so much lessened by them. Therefore many 
were dealt with to make resignation, and twenty-four of 
them did surrender this year.'' Now though these institu- 
tions are here spoken of as having for their object only the 
saying masses for the souls of their founders, yet all 
records prove that they were established for other purposes, 
especially the worship of some particular saint; and as 
this part of the Romish doctrine and discipline was as little 
regarded by Henry and the reformers as the saying masses 
for the relief of souls in purgatory, so it would not prevent 
their being annihilated. The final extinction of these 
associations, however, did not take place until the act 
1st Ed. VI., c. 14, by which, 1st, are given to the king, all 
manner of colleges, free chapels, chantries, &c. ; — 2nd, all 
manner of manors, lands, tenements, &c, thereto belong- 
ing ; — 3rd, all manors, lands, tenements, &c, by any mean 
assurance, conveyance, &c, given, assigned, limited, or 
appointed to the finding of any priest to have continuance 
for ever, and wherewith or whereby any priest was sus- 
tained, maintained, or found, within five years, &c. ; — 4th, 
and also all annual rents, profits, and emoluments, at any 
time within five years, employed, paid, or bestowed toward 
the maintenance or finding of any stipendiary priest for 
ever;— 5th, shall be in the actual and real possession of the 
king, in as large and ample manner and form as the priest, 
wardens, masters, ministers, governors, or other incum- 
bents of them within five years, &c, last occupied or 
enjoyed the same, and as though the colleges, free chapels, 
chantries, stipends, salaries of priests, and the said manors, 
lands, &c, were in this act specially named. 

Under this act the possessions of the fraternity of St. 
George became vested in the crown, in 1547, and shortly 
afterwards it was determined that they should be purchased 
of the crown on behalf of the then corporation ; and, with 
this view, a valuation, under date of Feb. 1, 3rd Ed. VI., 



334 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

was made of certain lands, &c, of " the fraternity of St. 
George in Poole," including the following tenements, viz. : 

£ s. d. 

A garden in Poole, valued at the yearly rent of 3 4 

A messuage or tenement in west street 4 

A garden called the " Mylles Post" 20 

A garden in the tenure of James Reddehid .... 1 4 

A piece of land called " Hungry Hill" 5 

Two tenements in the tenure of Adam Haryvill > n R Q 

and Hugh Cocks $ u ° ° 

A garden in high street, containing an acre. ... 5 

A garden at Pydwyn's 1 

A garden in west street 2 6 

1 10 10 

But of which are reserved as chief rent for 
Edward, duke of Somerset, then lord of 
the manor 3 8 

Leaving as the clear annual value 1 7 2 

Calculations are then made for the purchase of 

10s. 8d., at 15 years' purchase 8 

5s. at 24 years' purchase 6 

15s. 2d., at 15 years' purchase 11 7 6 

25 7 6 

The chief rent at 20 years' purchase 3 13 4 

"And if so" 21 14 2 

The valuation there goes on to say 

" The clere yerely value of the premises is xxvij s ij d 
which, rated at the several rates above rehersed, amountith 
to xxij 11 xiiij* ii d to be paide all in hande. 

" The king's majes tie to discharge the purchaser of all 
encumberances, excepte all leases and the covenantes in 
the same, and excepte the rent above allowed. 

" The tenure in socage. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 335 

" The purchaser to have the profitts from michaelmas 
last. 

" The purchaser to be bounde for the woods. 
" For John Manne of Pole, 
in the county of Dorset. 

" Richard Sakevylle, 
" Walter Myldmay, 
" Robert Keylwey." 

The conveyance, however, was not made directly to 
John Man, who acted in this matter " with the advyse & 
consent of s'tin of his bretheren;" but by letters patent of 
the king, dated March 12, 3rd Ed. VI., the late fraternity 
of St. George in Poole, and all its rights and appurte- 
nances ; with a garden ; a messuage or tenement in west 
street; a garden called the Mill Post; two messuages or 
tenements occupied by Adam Haryvill and Hugh Cockes; 
a garden in high street ; a garden at Pydwin's ; a garden 
in west street ; and all other messuages, lands, tenements, 
cottages, gardens, meadows, pastures, rents, reversions, 
services, and hereditaments whatsoever, belonging to the 
fraternity of St. George, were granted to John Churchill, 
of Dorchester, draper, and William Samwisshe, and the 
heirs and assigns of Churchill, for ever, to hold by fealty 
only, in free socage, and not in capite. 

On the 22nd of May following, Churchill and Samwisshe 
conveyed the above possessions to John Man. 

On the 10th of February, in the following year, Man 
conveyed the premises to Robert Rogers, then mayor of 
Poole, John Notherell, Morgan Rede, Thomas Whytte the 
younger, and Christopher Haviland, esqrs., burgesses of 
Poole, to hold, &c, to the only and proper use and benefit 
of the burgesses of Poole. 

April 10, 28th Eliz., 1586, White and Haviland, two of 
the above trustees, by a deed, reciting the letters patent to 
Churchill and Samwisshe and the subsequent conveyances, 



336 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 



and that they were the sole surviving trustees, conveyed all 
the premises to the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and com- 
monalty of the town of Poole. 

From that time the property so conveyed has remained 
part of the possessions of the corporation of Poole. 



In the augmentation office is a certificate of Thomas 
Speke, Hughe Powlett, &c, com'vss'on's appointed of all 
and singular lands, tenements, jewellis, plate, goods, and 
stockes apperteyninge or belonginge to any college, chaun- 
trey, chappell, &c, within the countie of Dorsett; by 
vertue of the kinge's com'yss'on to them directed, dated the 
xiiij daie of Januarie, in the seconde yere of the reigne of 
oure sovraigne lorde Edwarde the sixth, &c. ; by which 
it is certified that there were then no ornaments, Jewells, 
plate, or other goods, belonging to "the ffraternyte of 
Seynt George in Poole." 




ALMS HOVSES, IN CHURCH STREET.— p. 332. 



\ 



\ 













mmi dm 






ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.. 337 

€I)urtf) of M. $aul. 

The church of St. Paul stands towards the upper end of 
the High street. This church was erected a few years since, 
to meet the religious wants of the increasing population of 
the town ; the church of St. James, even in its new and en- 
larged state, being inadequate to the demand for church 
accommodation. The church of St. Paul, therefore, was 
built under the act 1st and 2nd Wm, IV. ; and was 
consecrated on the 17th of January, 1833, by the right 
rev. Robert Gray, D.D., then bishop of Bristol. It is a 
small and neat structure, in the Grecian style, and contains 
about 700 sittings, of which 200 are free. A gallery 
occupies the west end, in which is an organ, purchased by 
a subscription raised by the congregation. At the east 
end is a small chancel, on each side of which is a gallery 
for the use of the children educated in the Sunday school 
established in connection with the church. The east front 
is surmounted by a tower. The cost of erection and of the 
purchase of the land, amounting to upwards of £4000, was 
defrayed entirely by voluntary contributions. It is a per- 
petual curacy ; and the patronage in perpetuity, in ac- 
cordance with the provisions of the act of parliament, is 
vested in five trustees. It is also endowed as required by 
the act ; and from this endowment and the pew rents arises 
the income of the minister. The rev. Robert Otway Wilson 
is the first and present incumbent. Divine service, followed 
by a sermon, is performed in the church, every Sunday, at 
half-past ten o'clock in the morning, and at a quarter past 
six o'clock in the evening- : and there is also divine service, 
with a lecture, every Thursday evening, at seven o'clock. 

The church of St. Paul is under the immediate jurisdic- 
tion of the archdeacon of Dorset, in the diocese of Salis- 
bury ; and the churchwardens attend at the visitations of 
the archdeacon and of the bishop, at Blandford ; and are 
sworn at the archdeacon's court. . 

2 X 



338 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

SDi&^cnting Congregations?. 

Dissent greatly prevailed in Poole at an early period in 
the history of non-conformity. The stern opposition to the 
royalist cause that was manifested here daring the rebellion 
of 1640, may be attributed chiefly, if not entirely, to the 
prevalence of a religious principle that had descended 
from the puritans of the age of Elizabeth, and which 
sought, in separating from the church of Rome, to pass 
beyond the limits set by the reformed church as established 
in England, and to proceed to the opposite principle, 
equally extreme and dangerous. Throughout the troubles 
of the civil war, and during the continuance of the com- 
monwealth, the independents composed a very powerful 
party in the town of Poole ; and the alacrity with which the 
rev. Samuel Hardy was invited here on account of his non- 
conformity ; the protection which was here afforded him ; 
the presentment of the Dorsetshire jury [p. 307] ; and 
many other circumstances prove the preponderance of that 
religious party to whom the discipline of the established 
church was obnoxious. But owing to the rectory of Poole 
being a royal peculiar, and not subject to the ordinary 
ecclesiastical visitation, this prevalence of a non-conforming 
bias was enabled to exist here without that distinct severance 
from the communion of the establishment which was 
necessary in most other places ; and hence it is that the 
annals of dissent are so scanty in memorials of its early 
progress in this town. For many years the principles of 
non-conformity were here received into the bosom of the 
established church : and the ministers being elected in a 
somewhat popular manner, were necessarily tinged with 
the peculiar hues that distinguished the religious principles 
of those electing them. 

The earliest recorded intimation of a dissenting congre- 
gation assembling in Poole, occurs in connection with the 
life of the rev. John Wesley, A.M. This divine was the 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 339 

son of Mr. Bartholomew Wesley, of Charmouth, father of 
the rev. Samuel Wesley, rector of Ep worth, and grand- 
father of the celebrated founder of Wesleyan Methodism. 
He was educated at the New Inn hall, Oxford; and, 
having taken his degree, was, in May, 1658, sent to preach, 
at Winterbourne Whitchurch, near Blandford. Soon after 
the restoration, his non-conformity brought him into 
trouble, and, in 1662, he was committed to prison and 
ejected from the living. He then went to live at Wey- 
mouth, but the corporation of that borough refused per- 
mission for him to settle there. He afterwards went to 
Bridgwater, II minster, and Taunton, in all which places 
he met with great kindness and friendship from the dis- 
senters ; but he ultimately repaired to Preston, a village 
about three miles from Weymouth. He then frequently 
preached at Preston, Weymouth, and other places round 
about. " After some time," says Calamy, " he was called 
by a number of serious christians at Poole, to be their 
pastor; in which relation he continued to the day of his 
death, administering alt ordinances to them as opportunity 
offered." Calamy, however, in another place says, that 
" he continued at Preston, (excepting a temporary absence) 
as long as he lived." But this apparent discrepancy may 
be reconciled on the presumption that, although he was 
the pastor of a congregation at Poole, he resided at 
Preston, — a practice that then prevailed greatly, — and 
which the circumstances of dissent in some instances made 
necessary, especially after the passing of the five-mile act. 
Although Mr. Weslev managed his meetings with great 
prudence, he was often disturbed, several times appre- 
hended, and four times imprisoned; once at Poole for 
half a year, and once at Dorchester for three months ; but 
the other confinements were shorter. 

After the death of Mr. Wesley, we are without any 
record of the progress of dissent in Pocle until the erection 
of the meeting house in hill street, in 1705. 



340 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

THE OLD MEETING HOUSE, IN HILL STREET. 

The early non-conformists in Poole doubtless assembled 
for their religious worship, in some obscure building or 
private room; and there is no record of any separate 
edifice having been erected for this purpose before the 
year 1705, when the meeting-house in Hill street, now 
occupied by a congregation of unitarians, was built. In 
the sessions book of the borough, under date of January 
14, 1705-6, is the following entry of this building being 
licensed in pursuance of the act of parliament. 

" The Meeting House, lately built in the garden of 
Richard Burkman, situate and being near hell street in 
the said towne and county att this court, is licensed for an 
assembly for religious worship, in pursuance of a certifi- 
cate to the justices of the said quarter sessions and registered 
there accordingly, according to the act of parliament in 
that case made and provided." 

Under whose pastoral superintendence the dissenters 
were at the time of the erection of this place of worship, 
cannot now be ascertained, nor who was the successor of 
Mr. Wesley. The congregation flourished to such a de- 
gree, that, in 1721, it was necessary to enlarge the building, 
which is now fifty feet square, having a double roof, sup- 
ported by four pillars in the centre, it has a substantial 
appearance, and is kept in good order, partly by means of 
a small endowment (the only one in possession of the con- 
gregation,) bequeathed for that purpose by the late Mrs. 
Ann Swetland, during the ministry of the rev. A. Bennett. 
This bequest was to the amount of £100, in 3 <ffl cent con- 
solidated bank annuities, vested in trustees, the dividends 
whereof are directed to be applied towards the repairs of 
the meeting-house. In the year 1817, a small organ was 
presented to the congregation by Mr. William Young, of 
Kingston, Jamaica; and about the same time a congrega- 
tional library was formed at the suggestion of Mr. Bennett. 
There is a small burying ground attached to the meeting 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 341 

house. In the interior of the building", over the pulpit, is 
a marble slab, with the following inscription : — 

" To the Memory of Josefh Stephenson, "u'ho for forty-five years, 
during which he filled the office of Clerk of this Meeting, manifested a 
steady attachment to the cause of Religious Liberty, the right of Private 
Judgment, and the practice of Rational Religion. His Frailties — for 
frailties he had — (and who is perfect ?) lie humbled in the dust. To 
commemorate his virtues, and as a Monument of their respect and esteem, 
this Tablet is inscribed by the congregation. He succeeded his father 
as Clerk in the year 1766, and died on the 19th day of July, 1810, aged 
87 years." 

The name of the minister who officiated in this meeting 1 
house immediately after its erection is not recorded ; but, 
in 1722, the rev. Wm. Madgwick occurs as filling" that 
office, and he continued the pastor of the congregation for 
many years, dying in March, 1734. He seems to have had 
a colleague in Mr. Matthew Towgood, who settled at 
Poole in 1729, but soon relinquished the ministry and 
engaged in business. In 1735, the rev. Thomas Rowe 
filled the pastoral office at Poole; but how long he 
remained is uncertain. He was succeeded by the rev, 
Samuel Hay ward, who removed to London in 1752, and 
was succeeded by the rev. Samuel Phillipps. 

During the ministry of Mr. Phillipps, a difference of 
opinion, in point of religious doctrine, arose in the congre- 
gation, which ultimately led to a separation. i4bout this 
time the dissenting congregations generally were much 
agitated with the question of the trinity ; and here, as 
elsewhere, a considerable number of the hearers having 
abandoned that doctrine and several kindred tenets, and 
adopted the unitarian faith, the diversity of sentiment pre- 
vailed to such a degree, that a division of the society took 
place in the beginning of the year 1760. The pastor, who 
adhered to the trinitarian faith, maintained his doctrine in 
a manner displeasing to a majority of his hearers, and, 
after much indecorous altercation, he was at length locked 
out of the pulpit, and his adherents followed him, and 
founded the independent congregation still assembling in 
Skinner street. 



342 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

Mr. Phillipps was succeeded by the rev. John Howel, who 
had been previously settled at Enfield, whence he removed 
to Poole. He was a man of good sense, liberal mind, and 
moderate sentiments : and for some time the congregation 
continued large. It was now at the summit of its pros- 
perity ; Mr. Howel 's ministry was well attended and highly 
appreciated : but at length many individuals of weight in 
the society having seceded, the interest visibly declined. 
The congregation being diminished in numbers, the 
preacher's stipend became narrowed, and finding it at 
length inadequate to the support of his family, Mr. Howel, 
in 1782, resigned his pastoral office in Poole, and removed 
to Yeovil. He afterwards settled at Bridgwater. 

The rev. Evan Davies was the successor to Mr. Howel ; 
and, being a gentleman of some property, he was enabled 
to settle here. During the first years of his ministry, the 
society somewhat revived; but it afterwards again lan- 
guished; and, in 1794, Mr. Davies accepted an invitation 
to Lewes, in Sussex. 

Mr. William Lamport succeeded Mr. Davies, on the 
removal of that gentleman; and during his ministry there 
was again an evident improvement of the society. In 
Feb., 1804, Mr. Lamport, having received an invitation 
from a society at Lancaster, gave notice of his intention to 
remove from Poole at the midsummer following. 

No successor in the pastoral office was appointed on the 
departure of Mr. Lamport ; but the service was conducted 
with much propriety and praiseworthy zeal, by Mr. John 
Elson, a member of the congregation. By his means the 
chapel was kept open every Lord's day for sixteen months, 
when Mr. Roger Seaward, of Sidbury, accepted an invita- 
tion to become minister of the society, and continued in the 
pastoral office until 1815, when he resigned. 

On the resignation of Mr. Seaward, the society was kept 
together by the exertions of Mr. Thomas Lamport (then a 
member of the congregation), who, for a considerable 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 343 

time, regularly performed the services, which were res- 
pectably though not numerously attended ; and the society 
was much indebted to him for his voluntary and efficient 
assistance. 

In the early part of the year 1817, the rev. Abraham 
Bennett removed to Poole from Ditchling, in Sussex; and, 
short! y after his settlement in the ministry here, he proposed 
the establishment of a congregational library, which was im- 
mediately assented to at a meeting of the society convened 
for the purpose. Mr. Bennett removed from Poole in 
1826, having received an invitation to Manchester. 

He was succeeded in the same year by the rev. John 
Mitchelson, of Manchester college, York, who held the 
pastoral office in Poole until 1834, when he removed to 
Diss, in Norfolk. 

After the removal of Mr. Mitchelson, the rev. Mark 
Rowntree, also of Manchester college, York, accepted an 
invitation from the congregation, and became their pastor. 
He still holds that office. 

A Sunday school has been founded in connection with 
the congregation ; and there is a collection of books for 
children. 

The congregation have for many years used a prescribed 
form of divine service. 



THE INDEPENDENT MEETING HOUSE. 

The Independent church and congregation, in Skinner 
street, had their origin, in the year 1760, by a secession of 
the rev. S. Phillipps, and part of the people from the then 
presbyterian, but now unitarian, meeting, in Hill street. 
He had succeeded, in 1753, the rev. Samuel Hay ward, a 
gentleman of eminent character and respectable learning, 



344 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

who died pastor of the dissenting congregation, Silver 
street, London ; and who published, in connection with the 
author of " Philosophia Sacra," " Pike and Hayward's 
Cases of Conscience," a work of some popularity, which 
has passed through several editions. 

The secession, with Mr. Phillipps as their pastor, built, 
and for some years worshipped in, the late Lancasterian 
school. Mr. Phillipps, who left Poole in 1765, and soon 
after died, was succeeded by the rev. Edward Ashburner, 
M.A., educated at Mile End, under Drs. Conder, Gibbon, 
and Walker, the last of whom was a distinguished oriental 
scholar, who felt a strong attachment to Mr. Ashburner, 
and from whom Mr. A. derived that love for, and accurate 
acquaintance with, the Hebrew language, which he was 
known to possess. During Mr. Ashburner's ministry, the 
meeting house, late the Lancasterian school, was enlarged. 
And in 1777, the present place of worship was opened. 

In consequence of growing infirmities, especially from 
paralysis, Mr. Ashburner resigned in 1801, and died in 
1804. He was succeeded, in April, 1801, by the rev. 
Thomas Durant, educated at Hoxton (now Highbury) 
college. 

In 1832, the rev. John Morell Mackenzie, M.A., educa- 
ted at Wymondby and at the university of Glasgow, was 
chosen co-pastor with Mr. Durant. In 1837, Mr. Macken- 
zie accepted an invitation to Glasgow. 

In 1811, a large garden, formerly in the occupation 
of Mr. Humphrey, was purchased for an enlargement 
of the burying ground; and, in 1831, a still larger piece 
of ground, formerly a common garden, was purchased for 
the same purpose. In 1814, a large vestry, 30 feet by 18, 
was built. In 1 823, the meeting house was considerably 
enlarged, so as to seat about 1500 persons. In the years 
1833 and 1834, the meeting house, its accesses, &c, were 
considerably improved ; and an infant school, occasionally 
employed also for week-day worship, capable of seating 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORV. 345 

a congregation of 300 persons, was built. The whole of 
the expenses attendant upon these improvements, from 
1823, have been about four thousand pounds, — borne by 
the congregation itself. 

The meeting has had a few legacies, chiefly for present- 
ing assistance to the poor. These legacies, generally at 
the discretion of the deacons, have been expended. There 
is but one permanent endowment, by a person named 
Williams, of £200, 3 & cent., one half of which to be 
distributed among the poor, and the other half to be paid 
to the minister. There is another small legacy, which will 
fall in on the death of several persons who have a life- 
interest in the bequest. But it is fondly hoped, that no 
future permanent bequests or endowments will be made in 
any form ; as the experience of dissenting communities has 
proved them to be, with scarcely a solitary exception, their 
injury, — often their utter ruin. 

A Sunday school, for Hamworthy and Poole, was com- 
menced about the year 1789. It was, for many years, 
small and comparatively inefficient: for it depended for 
success upon stipendiary teachers only, with the occasional 
superintendence of the committee, It has, for nearly 30 
vears, been instructed by voluntary teachers ; and, during 
the whole of that time, it has been efficient. The scholars 
are at present about 500, with about 70 or 80 teachers. 
The members of the congregation have also supported, 
many years, Sunday schools at Longfleet, Parkstone, 
Longham, and Sturminster Marshall ; and one, formerly, at 
Lower Lytchett, which has been given up to the dissenting 
congregation regularly formed in that parish. The con- 
gregation procured a master and mistress for the Infant 
school, which has been established, and is open to the 
families of every denomination, — as it would be extrava- 
gance and folly to think of converting an institution for the 
benefit of young children into a sectarian society, by either 
attempting to proselyte the little innocents, or to exclude 
them from a share of its advantages. 

2rY 



346 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 



THE BAPTIST MEETING HOUSE. 

The Baptist congregation now subsisting in Poole, was 
not established earlier than the commencement of the 
present century. But there formerly existed a Baptist 
society in the town, that had assembled here from an early 
period : and there is reason to believe that thev met in 
the house of Mrs, Susannah Pike, which, in 1707, was 
" licensed for an assembly for religious worship. " This 
society afterwards met in a meeting house erected at West 
butts ; but the congregation gradually diminished, and at 
length entirely ceased. The meeting house fell to decay ; 
and, upwards of forty years since, the land and the build- 
ings thereon were sold to Mr. G. Kemp. The pulpit, that 
until that time remained in the meeting house, was then 
also sold, and is now used in the Independent meeting 
house, West street, Wareham. With this society, however, 
the present congregation is not connected, and possesses no 
records of its existence and progress; and the last member 
of it died at a very advanced age, two or three years prior 
to the foundation of the present society. 

The present Baptist congregation was formed in 1804; 
and for some time the members met in a private building 
in Market street. In 1806, they erected a small place of 
worship in Bowling-green alley, which was opened on the 
25th of December in that vear; but this building beino* 
found inadequate to the increasing numbers of the congre- 
gation, the present meeting house in Hill street was 
erected in 1815. It is a neat structure, and affords 
accommodation for about 500 worshippers ; its dimensions 
are 50 feet by 36 feet ; and there is a deep gallery in front. 
Behind the meeting-house is a vestry, 35 feet by 12 feet; 
and a small burying-ground surrounds the building. 

For some time after the formation of the consre oration, 
Mr, Saunders officiated in divine worship, and preached to 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 347 

the congregation. Mr. Samuel Bulgin, the first and pre- 
sent pastor, settled here in July, 1807 ; he was ordained in 
June, 1808, and has since continued in the pastoral office. 
A Sunday school connected with the congregation, was 
established m 1810. 



W T ESLEYAN METHODIST MEETING HOUSE. 

Wesleyan Methodism was established in Pool 3 about 
the period of the decease of its celebrated founder. It 
was introduced by R. C. Brackenbury, esq., of Raithby 
hall, Lincolnshire,^ a pious gentleman, who fitted up and 
for some time preached in the old theatre. In the year 
1793, he erected, at his sole expense, the present meeting 
house in Chapel lane, and conveyed it to the following 
persons in trust, for the use of the Wesleyan Methodists : 
viz., Mr. John Stickland, of Wareham ; Mr. Thomas Scott, 
Mr. Robert Miller, and Mr. Thomas "Woodcock, of Poole ; 
Mr. Mellidge, of Grange ; the rev. James Wood, the rev. 
Samuel Woolmer, the rev. Daniel Campbell, the rev. 
Jonathan Barker, and the rev. George Highfield, Wesleyan 
ministers on the conference plan. The meeting-house was 
built on land belonging to the manor of Canford Magna 
and Poole, of which a lease was granted by sir John Webb, 
for 99 years, renewable for ever. The ground rent payable 
is two guineas per annum. 



* Robert Carr Brackenbury, esq., was a zealous promoter of Wesleyan Methodism. 
He greatly assisted the extension of the society in this part of the kingdom. To 
the isle of Portland his labours -were especially devoted ; and to his exertions and 
liberality, the islanders are indebted for the instruction and establishment of Wesleyan 
Methodism. He erected a dwelling house for the minister, and in that house a 
Wesleyan minister still constantly resides. 



2 Y 2 



348 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 

THE FRIENDS' MEETING HOUSE. 

A meeting 1 house belonging to the society of Friends is 
situate in Lagland street. It is a convenient and spacious 
structure, and is surrounded by a large burying" yard. 

The followers of George Fox, afterwards styled quakers, 
as a term of reproach, formed themselves into a regular 
congregation at Poole, under the immediate eye of that 
extraordinary and enthusiastic man, so early as the year 
1655, as we learn from his own journal, in which he says, 
" from Ring*wood we came to Poole ; and, having- set up 
pur horses at an inn, we sent into the town to enquire for 
such as fear the Lord, and such who were worthy ; and we 
had a meeting* there, with several sober people ; and 
William Baily,^ a baptist teacher, was convinced there at 
that time. The people received the truth in the inward 



* William Bayly, who is spoken of above in Fox's journal, was probably a native 
of Poole, -where, in 1665, he was the teacher of the Baptist congregation ; but, in that 
year, through the powerful preaching of Fox, he adopted the doctrines of that leader, 
and was afterwards a very distinguished member of the society of friends, and one of 
the most zealous in extending the tenets to which he had become a proselyte. Hav- 
ing been favoured with the friendship of Fox, he left Poole, and repaired to London, 
r t s offering a wider field for his exertions. He accompanied his leader in some of his 
journies; advancing, both by his preaching and his writings, the doctrines that he 
had adopted, and to which he adhered firmly and openly, amidst the dangers theu 
necessarily attending their avowal. He was subject to much persecution ; and, after, 
suffering imprisonment, was one of those who were, by order of government, con- 
vej-ed to the West India islands. He died at sea, April 1, 1675. The following is a 
list of his publications : — 

A warning from the spirit of truth, unto all persecutors and enemies to the dear 
children of God, who follow the Lamb, and are the meek of the earth. .'. 1658. 

The blood of the righteous Abel crying from the ground, &o. 1658. 

A short discovery of the state of man before the fall, in the fall, and out of the fall 
again 1659. 

A short relation or testimony of the working of the light of Christ in me from my 
childhoo d, ,.......,.../......:..:.. : 1 659. 

A warning from the Lord to the inbabitants of the city of London 1659. 

This is for them that do nourish up their hearts as in a day of slaughter, 1660. 

The life of Enoch again revived, in which Abel's offering is accepted, and Cain's 
mark known, and he rejected, . .* ". 1662. 

Jacob is become a flame, and Esau stubble, s. d. 

The vision of William Bayly, s. d. 

A message sent forth from the risen seed of God, , 1663. 

A general epistle to all friends who are called and gathered of God, 1662. 

Some words given forth by the spirit of truth to all people, 1662. 

A brief declaration to all the world, from the innocent people of God called Quakers, 
of our principles and belief concerning plotting?, &c, . . .1662. 

Deep calleth unto deep, or a visitation from on high unto the breathing seed of 
Jacob, 1663. 

A sricvous lamentation over thee, England ! , 1663. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 340 

parts, and were turned to the Lord Jesus Christ, their rock 
and foundation, their teacher and Saviour : and there is 
become a great gathering in the name of Jesus, of a very 
tender people, who continue under Christ's teaching." 
Two years afterwards, George Fox again visited Poole, 
which led to the congregation being augmented \)y many 
converts, and in the following year, 1658, he revisited his 
friends here, meeting with a gratifying reception. In 1G63, 
he again passed through this part of the country, extending 
the doctrines which he promulgated. Notwithstanding the 
persecutions to which persons of this sect were exposed, 
the society in Poole flourished greatly, and comprised 
at one time, many of the most respectable and wealthy 
inhabitants of the town, but of late years it has become 
greatly diminished. 



-^To the camp of Israel, whom he hath brought up out of the land of Egypt, by a 

mighty hand and outstretched arm, called Quakers in England, 1663. 

%^'The Lamb's government to'tk? exalted over all in Israel, or the glory of the Lord 

- risen, 1663. 

An answer to a query published in the News Book, concerning help against the 

Turk, ,, . , T 1663. 

An arrow shot against Babylon, out of Joseph's bow,. 1663, 

A vindication of the commands and doctrines of Christ Jesus, and of his people, 

in their faithful obedience to him, against all swearing, 1663. 

Pure encouragements from the spirit of the Lord, as a joyful salutation, with full 

assurance of victory, unto the noble army of the Lamb 1664. 

The great and dreadful day of the Lord God Almighty, which is once more 

proclaimed . . * 1664. 

Some words of warning and exhortation unto all young people , 1664, 

An epistle, containing wholesome exhortations and good counsel, from the spirit 

of truth, unto all such as are or may be under the judgment or sentence of 

banishment ".....' 1664. 

For the king and parliament, and his council and teachers, 1664, 

Seven thunders uttering their voices, and the seven last trumpets preparing to 

sound, &c, . . . . s. d. 

The dreadful and terrible day of the Lord God, s. d. 

A testimony of truth against all the sowers of dissention, strife, and discord, 

amongst the people of the Lord, 1667. 

The true C hrist owned, in a few plain words of truth, &c. , 1667. 

A faithful testimony and warning, concerning the certainty of the great and notable 

day of the Lord, broken forth in this age, after the long night of apostacy,. . 1672, 
A call and visitation from the Lord God of heaven and earth, unto Christendom, 

(so called) who profess to know God, but in works deny him, 1673. 

Rebellion rebuked, in an answer to a scandalous pamphlet written by one W. 

Haworth, 1673. [This was partly written by John Crook, a justice of the 

peace of Bedfordshire.] 

A testimony against drunkenness and swearing, 1675, 

The counterfeit discovered; or W. Haworth's book, entitled "The Quaker 

converted," refuted, 1676. [Partly written by John Crook and Christopher 

Taylor.] 
A collection of the beveral writings of that true prophet, faithful servant of God, 

and sufferer for the testimony of Jesus. W. Bavlv, „ 1(376, 



350 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPEL. 

The present Roman Catholic Chapel is situated at 
Lon<rfleet. But it being- found small and inconvenient, a 
subscription has lately been raised for the erection of a new 
chapel on the north-west side of the town. This chapel, 
which is now in course of erection, will, when completed, 
be a chaste and elegant structure. The congregation at 
present is small. The Rev. Michael Edward Smith, is 
the officiating priest. 



A few years since, a small congregation of followers of 
Emanuel Swedenborg regularly assembled in a private 
house, set apart for the purpose, in Cinnamon lane, but the 
individuals of this persuasion were found to be so few, that 
the synagogue has been discontinued. The house is now 
occupied by a small congregation of Primitive xMethodists. 




.KEN DOWN A.D. 1819. 




_ • - ■ - . ' .il 



i kt,/uM 



.351 



€i)e a^aritfme fftetrnp* 



It lias already been shewn, in former pages, that the 
rise of Poole as a place of commercial resort took place 
in the twelfth century. It was natural, indeed, that, with 
the first dawn of commercial enterprize amongst the popu- 
lation of England, a port so favoured by nature, offering 
such comparative security from elemental violence and 
from hostile invasion, as the haven of Poole, should be 
frequented by those who embarked in the precarious 
speculations of trade in those days. In tracing the general 
history of the town, we have also noticed the various levies 
made by the sovereigns upon the shipping of the port of 
Poole, as indicating, in some measure, its relative impor- 
tance in the scale of commerce. The early charters 
granted to the borough, by the lords of the manor, especi- 
ally that of Longespee, likewise bear ample testimony to 
the extent to which the transactions of trade were here 
carried on. The charter just particularized, indeed, 
expressly acknowledges the existence of a foreign trade at 
this port, by reserving to the lord a duty of two shillings 
for every ship going to foreign parts beyond the seas ; and 
the " mercatores extranet " — the stranger merchants — of 
whom- it speaks, would indicate a traffic of no mean 
importance. 



362 MARITIME HlSTOftYa 

In the year 1341, under date of June 7, an important 
document occurs in connection with the port of Poole. It 
is an inquisition, ad quod damnum^ taken before the king's 
escheator, on the petition of John Warren, earl of Surrey, 
then holding- the manor of Canford and Poole, and 
William Monteacute, earl of Salisbury, who had the 
reversion thereof. The following is a translation : — 

" An inquisition taken at Poole, in the county of Dorset, 
before John de Caneford de Wellop, escheator of our lord 
the king, in the counties of Somerset, Dorset, Cornwall, 
and Devon, on the 7th day of June, in the 15th year of 
the reign of king Edward the third in England, and the 
second of his reign in France ; according to the tenor of 
the writ of this inquisition, taken on the oaths of Richard 
de Calshall, Henry de Blokkesworthe, John Hubert, 
Drogo JBardolf, Richard Bryan, John de Gillyngham, 
John Watson, John de Oclee, William Chaumpaigne, 
Ralph Attemer, Richard Gele, and John Wolfrych ; who 
say, on their oaths, that the town of Poole is a free 
borough, and the burgesses of the same borough, of every 
ship coming into the port of the aforesaid town, have for 
anchorage twopence, and for dockage [culagium], two 
pence ; and for other merchandize brought to the aforesaid 
borough, the customs Underwritten, which they have been 
accustomed to receive, in aid of the firm of their borough, 
by the hands of the merchants frequenting the aforesaid 
borough, from a time to which the memory of man doth 
not extend ; that is to say : — 

d. 

For every last of herrings 4 

■ ' hundred of salt fish 4 

' salmon. \ 

bundle [garba] of staves § 



quarter of salt 



quarter of corn \ 

jar of oil ... 4 ± 

ox hide \ 

sarplar of wool 4 

sarplar of undressed skins 4 

hundred of iron or poles ^ 

hundred of codfish § 

vessel [miliarium] of nuts \ 

dozen cossimori of rosin J 

quarter of coals ~ 

barrel of tar 2 

barrel of pitch 2 



MARITIME HISTORY. 353 

u They also say that it is not to the loss nor prejudice of 
our lord the king nor of any other person, for the king to 
grant to the aforesaid burgesses of the aforesaid borough 
of Poole, a charter of all the aforesaid customs, and that it 
is not to the loss nor prejudice of our lord the king, nor of 
any other person, for the king to grant to the aforesaid 
burgesses of the borough aforesaid, that all fishermen fish- 
ing within the boundaries of the aforesaid port, shall sell 
the fish caught within those boundaries at the said town 
and not elsewhere ; provided, however, that the fish 
there sold shall be at a fair price. And they say that the 
port of the same town of Poole contains in length four 
miles \leucas^ that is to say, from the place called North 
Havenford unto the place called Rodeclyve Atte Welle, 
and in breadth to the middle of the water between the said 
port of Poole and Brownsea ; and they say that it is not to 
the loss nor prejudice of our said lord the king, nor of any 
other person, that the king grant to the said burgesses of 
Poole, all customs and liberties which the burgesses of 
Melcomb have, by charter, had granted to them by the 
kings of England. In testimony of which, the seals of the 
aforesaid are appended. Given the day and place and 
year above mentioned." 

Notice has already been taken of the maritime councils 
or parliaments convened by Edward III., and to which 
Poole was summoned to send its deputies. 

In the reign of the monarch just named, a singular 
document was issued, touching the port of Poole, and 
which is historically useful, as indicating the extent of 
authority in maritime affairs assumed by the cinque ports 
in that age. This instrument is a certificate from the mayor 
and barons of Winchelsea, declaratory of the extent of 
the maritime jurisdiction of the port of Poole; and a 
translation is subjoined : — 

" To all those who shall see or hear these present letters, 
the mayor and barons of Winchelse salute in God. 
Whereas our most dear friends and allies the mayor and 
burgesses of the town of Poole have given us to under- 
stand that some people do suppose that the water between 
Redclive Atte Welle and the North Haven ford should 



354 .MARITIME HISTORY* 

appertain to another place than to the said town of Poole* 
And whereas it is charitable to witness the truth, We, by 
these our letters, do testify, and to all people do truly give 
to know, that we and our ancestors, from time, to which 
memory doth not extend, have called and do call the said 
water the haven of Poole, and such we account it to be. 
And so far as we have understood, the officers of the said 
town, at all times past, have received the customs belong- 
ing- to the aforesaid water. In witness whereof we have 
moreover to these our letters put our eommon seal. Given 
at Winchelse, on the morrow of St. Mark the evangelist, 
in the thirty -eighth year of the reign of our sovereign the 
king Edward the third after the conquest." [April 26, 
1364.]* 

There does not appear to be any definite power vested 
in the cinque ports by the crown, from which they could 
derive such authority as is implied by the grant of this 
certificate. But during the unhappy reign of John, the 
misfortunes of that monarch had thrown him greatly into 
the power of the cinque ports, whose favour and protection 
he was very solicitous of procuring ; and they were 
emboldened, by a sense of their own importance and his 
weakness, not only to obtain from him many privileges 
which, under ordinary rules of government, would cer- 
tainly not have been conceded, but also to usurp a power 
and authority over the maritime alFairs of the kingdom, 
which nothing but the depressed condition of the monarch 
could have permitted him to tolerate, and the tacit con- 
firmation of which, by the immediate successors of John, 



* The above translation varies from that which is affixed to the original in the 
archives of the town, and which is manifestly incorrect in some material passages. 
A copy of the original, therefore, is here given r — 

"A tous eeux q' cestes p'sentes l'res verront ou oiront les mair & barons de 
Winchelse salut' en Dieu Fur ceo q' nos tres chr' amys & allies les mair & burgyses 
de la ville de Pole nos' onnt dones a entendre q' austune3 gents snpposont q' leawe 
p' entre la Itedecliue atte Welle & le Northauen forde d'uist app'tiendre a aultre lieu 
q' a la dite ville de Pole Et p' ceoq' eaulmosn' est tesmoign' chose veritable Nos 
p' cestes nos' l'res tesmoignoms et as toutes gents v'itablement fassoms assauoir q* 
nos' & nos' auncestres du temps dont memorie ne court la dite eawe auoms appelle et 

appelloms la hauene de la Pole et le tenoms Et a ceoq' nos auoms entendu' 

les ministrts de la dite ville en tout temps passe receyue' les custumes 

app'tiendr' a 1 eawesursdite En tesmoisnance de quele chose a cestes nos l'res out'es 
nos auoms mys n're co'eseal Don a Winchels' lendemayn de seynt Mark le-evan» 
gelist 1 an du'reign n're s'e le roi Ecto did tiers puis le conqueste xxxviij." 



MARITIME HISTORY. 355 

can be attributed solely to the government not having" been 
firmly established, "When," says Southey,^ "it was 
granted 'that if any man, English or other, would sue for 
restitution of goods by them before taken, or for the death 
of any of their friends before slain,' all such complaints 
should be sued in their courts, and there determined, there 
must have been the confidence of strength in the party that 
made so iniquitous a demand, and the consciousness of 
weakness in that which consented to it." And we learn 
from Fabyan and Holinshed,«f* that "the common fame at 
that day ran, that the wardens of the cinque ports had 
the dominion of the sea, wherefore the king was fain to 
follow their pleasure." 

We have little further account of the port until the 11th 
Henry VI. ; but it appears to have gradually risen in 
importance, as in the letters patent issued in that year, 
[p. 94,] by which valuable privileges were granted to the 
port of Poole, there is a recital of "the weakness and 
insufficiency of our port of Melcombe;" and also, " how 
notable our town and port of Poole is inhabited, and the 
great multitude of people there is there, and that the same 
port is secure and sufficient for ships to resort thither," &c. 

Concurrently with the grant of the letters patent of 11th 
Henry VI., was the issue of an order that sir John Had-* 
clyffe, knight, seneschal of Guienne, who, by the king's 
warrant, was to be paid a certain sum out of the port of 
Melcombe, should now be paid out of the port of Poole. 

22nd Edward IV., the king granted the tolls and parva 
custuma of Poole, to John Nanby, during the minority of 
of Edward, son to George, duke of Clarence. 4th Henry 
VIII., the parva custuma of Poole, and the woolhouse, 
were granted to John Hunt for life. 1st Edward VI., 
the parva custuma, and prisage of wines, were granted to 
Edward, duke of Somerset. And. in 1st and 2nd Philip 



* Nav. Hist., i, 197. + Fabyan, 361, Holinshed, U, 4G9. 



356 



MARITIME HISTORY, 



and Mary, the parva custuma and tolls, and the woolhouse 
were granted to George White for life. 

In an old census of the town to which reference has 
been before made, taken in 1574, is a list of the ships 
belonging 1 to the town, with their names, and the names 
of the owners. The number of the " shippes and bal-. 
lingers" was 20, viz., 1, Angell ; 2, Primrose; 3, Grey-, 
hounde; 4, James; 5, Anne; 6, Falcon; 7, George; 
8, Swallo; 9, Ihus; 10, Elizabeth; 11, Margaret; 12, 
, . . . ; 13, Johne ; 14, Little Johne ; 15, Mayflower; 
16, Peter; 17, Spedewell ; 18, Mare Rede; 19, Grace 
of God; 20, Lione. 

Another survey of the vessels belonging to the port was 
was taken in 1591, by order of the queen, as an experi- 
ment, with the view of a general survey of all the ports in 
the kingdom being founded thereon. The document 
recording this survey is preserved amongst the MSS. in the 
Cottonian Library at the British Museum. It suffered in a 
slight degree by the fire, which injured so much of the 
contents of that valuable depository. The following is a 
copy : — 

" # en the for # 1591 of 

all the shippes . . . . , 3? and barques belonging to the 
port of Poole, w th their severall burthens and tonnage, and 
the p'ticular ordinance belonging to euery of them, as 
allso the names of the owners of the said shippes. 



The names of y e 
shippes 


Tonnage. 


Pieces of 
ordinances 


The owners' names, 


. The Castell of 
Comfprte 


070 tonns 


2 falcons 
2 mynions 
2 sacres 


owners Willm. p'nnell 
John Lambert 


. The Grace of 
God 


050 tonns 


1 mynion 
5 falcons 
1 falcon 


owner Rich. Edwards 



2. 



• The pages from which the above has been copied are burnt at the top and sidea, 
and where the omissions are made in the places indicated, some part of the writing 
has luffered from the flames. 



MARITIME HISTORY. 



357 



The names of ye 
shippes 

. The Stetts 
Bonnauentor 



Pieces of 
1 onnage. ordinances 



060 tonns 3 mynions 
2 falcons 
1 fowller 



4. The Sea Flower 050 tonns 4 mynions 

2 falcons 

5. The Sea Bright 060 tonns 2 falcons 



6. The Angell 

7. The Lyon 

8. The Egle 

9. The Edward 

30. The William 
& John 

11. The Primrose 

12. The Maye Flower 

13. The Barque 
Lambert 

14. The Margaret 

of 

15. The Mary gold 

16. The Hopewell 
* 

18. The Caruell 

19. The Peter 

20. The Sithe 



055 tonns 2 fowlers 
4 falcons 

060 tonnes 4 mynions 
4 falcons 

050 tonnes 3 falcons 



040 tonnes 5 falcons 

045 tonnes 4 falcons 

030 tonnes 2 falcons 

030 tonnes 1 falcon 

024 tonnes 1 falcon 

026 tonnes 1 falcon 

020 tonnes 1 falcon 

018 tonnes nichil 

024 tonnes nichil 

025 tonnes 2 falcons 
014 tonnes nichill 
025 tonnes 2 falcons 



The owners' names, 
owner Nicholas Curee 



owners John Bramble 
Michell Collurs 

owners John Lambert 
John Dobbins 

owners John Bramble 
John Dobbins 



21. The Newe Barque 040 tonnes 4 falcons 



owners Peter Coxe 

Roger Mawd..* 

owners Will'm Pen 

owners John Fielde 
Will'm Poole 

owners Will'm Colyford 

owners 1 John cotton 

owners 1 John Lambert 

owners Will' P'nnell 
John Like 

owners 2 John Bramble 
John Androwes 

owner 1 Thorns Benet 

1 John * 

owner Thomas Mores 

owner 1 Rich. Lambert 

owner Peter coxe 

owner 2 AndrewPinnell 
Peetor cillie." 



* The asterisks denote that the omissions are caused hy the partial destruction of 
the MS. by lire. 



2 Z 



358 MARITIME HISTORY. 

To this recapitulation is annexed an enquiry " . . . . ^ 

yf this survie might ^ generally executed in all 

ports and creeks of this lande* 

"1. Firste yf this survie be duelye executed yt will 
prevent the gredie desires of such vndowtifull subiects as 
commonlie make their saeles of good and servisable ships 
of this realme w th their ordinances and munie'on into other 
forrayne countries whereby the force of o* navie is greatlie 
weakned and o r auntient enemyes much strenghtned 
thereby. 

** 2* Secondlie other forrayne eontries would not be so 
fullie furnished w th the good ordinance of the realme w ch 
nowe is caryed vnto them in o r ships in their voyages for 
want of dewe survie thereof every voyage for that o r shipes 
do carrye under the culler to defend themselues some of 
them viij, x, xi, or xij,. xvj, xx, peeces of good ordinance 
and at their retorne do not for the most p'te bringe home 
againe the one halfe of their said ordonance but have sold 
the same in such forrayne eontries wheare they have bene 
trafyqued in their said voyages this wicked practis is to 
much vsed whereby lykewise o r enemies are to much 
strenghtned as well in their ships by sea as in their forces 
by arrie w ch greate disorder would sonne be remeded yf 
this survey were dueley executed. 

" 3. Thirdlie by this survey another great abuse w ch 
now is to commonly vsed would be also reformed to the 

freat benyfit of yoF ma*ty for that when yor maiestie shall 
ave cause to take up anie of these shipes and to employ 

them in yor . . . ^ to paye but 

after the rate ...... ,-#? their juste burthen and tonnage 

accordinge to the surveiour boocke whereas heretofore 
they rated their shipes of more bourden and tonnage by 
one therd part more then they were in burthen of marchants 
goods by w ch frawde and vndowtifull deallinges your 
maiestie was great surcharged w ch by this survey wold be 
fullie reformed. 

" 4. Fowerthlie by the books of this survey yt wilbe 
p'sentlie knowen in what ports and havens ar the fittest 
shipes for yor ma'ts servie when any occation shall require 
to employe them." 

* The asterisks denote that the omissions are caused by the partial destruction of 
the MS. by the fire. 



MARITIME HISTORY. 359 

In the reign of Elizabeth, this coast was greatly infested 
with pirates, and threatened with descents by the foreign 
powers with which this kingdom was then in a state of 
hostility. Measures were accordingly taken for the better 
defence of the coasts ; and, 20th Eliz., Jan. 22, 1577-8, a 
commission was issued by the crown, reciting that divers 
ill disposed persons had of late, in sundry vessels and 
ships, frequented the seas upon the coasts of this realm, 
robbing and spoiling honest quiet merchants and others, — 
which pirates were victualled and furnished by persons 
residing near or within the havens, creeks, or landing 
places of the realm, taking the stolen goods of the pirates 
in exchange; — appointing the mayor of Poole, William, 
marquess of Winchester, Thomas, viscount Howard of 
Bindon, sir Henry Ashley, sir Matthew Arrundell, sir John 
Horsey, sir John Yonge, the recorder of Poole, George 
Trencher, and William Hussey, esquires, commissioners to 
prevent such enormities being used in the havens, creeks, 
and landing places of the town of Poole; — with power to 
choose honest, discreet, and trusty persons, dwelling within 
or near every of the said havens, creeks, and landing places 
of the town of Poole, for the prevention of such practices ; 
— to repair once every month to such havens, &c, to 
ascertain how the deputies performed their duties ; — and 
to issue precepts to the sheriff to empannel juries to trj 
offenders. 

The powers with which this commission was invested 
appear to have been inadequate for the purpose, the 
pirates, &a, still continuing to pursue their depredations ; 
as is clear from the following letter, addressed ** To the 
Right Honourable Lorde T. Howard, viscount Byndon," 
the chief commissioner: — 

" Right Honorabull, owr humbull dewteis rememberyd. 
Hit may plese the same to be advertisyd that this morning 
a small bark of this town coming from grnise [ Guernsey 1 
was bordyd w'thin one lege of Sandwych by a bark 



MARITIME HISTORY, 



soposyd to be of Frans in Normandy, w'ch had in her a 
xij mene vv'th nevs and bors thes fyssheremen tok from our 
neybors in canvas & other thyngs to the vallewe of forty 
ink' & \\L in redy money. Yf som order be not taken in 
tyme for th' app'hendyng& suppressyng of them ther shall 
no bark pass bytwixt this and th' islands unspoylyd of 
goods & men : for remedy therof hyt may pies yowr 
honor to graunt vnto vs a lysens to sett forth a bark or too 
well manyd at owr charge for the ap'hendyng & suppress- 
ing of them w'ch dayly d'mageth us & spoylyth us of owr 
goods and men." 

This letter, which was from the authorities of the town, 
had the due effect, as a commission was issued 25th Eliz., 
Aug. 8, 1583, appointing the mayor, Giles Escourt, esq., 
recorder, William Newman, William Green, John Rogers, 
and William Dyker, commissioners, with power to rig, 
arm, furnish, array, and set forth any ship or ships, bark 
or barks, or other vessel, for arresting and apprehending 
the pirates and rovers, and to try them. 

Among the municipal archives of the town is a table of 
town dues, dated 2nd Eliz., and stated to be collected under 
the statute 22nd Henry VIII ; by which table duties appear 
to have been payable under the heads of keyage or wharf- 
age, hallage or cellarage, also for prisage, or weighing at 
the town beam. 

The town dues or petty customs claimed by the corpora- 
tion for goods landed from vessels within the port, and 
which seem to have been derived from those mentioned in 
the inquisition of the 15th Edward III., occasioned several 
disputes between the towns of Poole and Wareham, the 
inhabitants of the latter claiming, from time immemorial, 
certain rights and immunities for goods and merchandizes 
exported and imported to and from Poole and Wareham. 
In 1666 or 1667, the inhabitants of Wareham petitioned 
the king in council, setting forth that the people of Poole 
extorted dues at the quays which they had no right to pay. 
The inhabitants of Poole supported their right, and an 
order of council was made accordingly, that Wareham was 



MARITIME HISTORY. 361 

only exempt from paying* for tobacco-pipe clay. At the 
lent assizes, at Winchester, 1731, a cause,, nearly six years 
depending in the Exchequer, was tried before lord chief 
baron Reynolds, between the town of Poole, plaintiff, and 
some of the inhabitants of Wareham, defendants, concern- 
ing these dues, when the defendants obtained a verdict, and 
fifty pounds costs. In 1749, the inhabitants of Poole 
petitioned parliament for an act authorising their collection 
of these duties. This petition set forth that Poole was a 
place of the greatest trade and commerce in the county of 
Dorset; — that the petitioners, time out of mind, had re- 
ceived certain duties called quayage or wharfage, upon 
the importation or exportation of all goods and merchan- 
dizes into and out of the harbour, and also certain other 
duties called boomage and ballast duty, which had been 
constantly under the management of the mayor and cor- 
poration, and by them applied towards repairing the 
wharfs and other public works ; — that of late years several 
persons had refused to pay the said duties, and that the 
petitioners, to support their ancient prescriptive right, had 
brought several actions for recovering the same ; but, by 
reason of the great expense and difficulty, in regard to 
evidence, no inhabitant of the said town being admitted as 
a competent witness, the petitioners had been quite remedi- 
less in their prosecutions, by means whereof the quays, 
wharfs, and public passages leading thereto, were in a 
very ruinous condition, and for want of a proper fund, 
would be entirely destroyed, and the harbour be rendered 
totally unserviceable. This petition was referred to a 
committee, but the bill being opposed by Wareham, it was 
withdrawn. But on a subsequent application to parlia- 
ment, an act was passed 29th Geo. II. [1756], "for the 
better ascertaining, recovering, and collecting certain 
duties payable upon the importation and exportation of 
goods and merchandizes into or out of the harbour of the 
town and county of Poole ; and also of ballast and boom- 



362 MARITIME HISTORY. 

age duties, payable in respect of ships and vessels coming" 
into or going- out of the said harbour ; and for the enlarg- 
ing, better repairing, and keeping in repair, the said 
harbour, and the quays and wharfs ; and for providing a 
proper place for keeping gunpowder, in or near the said 
town; and for establishing and regulating the nightly 
watch, and enlightening the streets in the said town." 

This act recites that the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and 
commonalty, had, time out of mind, been entitled to and 
received certain duties called petty customs or wharfage, 
upon all exports and imports, as well as certain other duties 
called boomage, and ballast duties, which had been applied 
to the repairing of the harbour, quays, and wharfs, and 
other works necessary for the more convenient use thereof; 
that several persons had refused to pay such duties, induced 
thereto by the difficulties in supporting prescriptive rights 
by strict legal evidence ; and that the money therefore, so 
raised, was insufficient to repair the harbour, quay, and 
wharfs, which were consequently in a ruinous condition ; 
for remedy whereof it enacts 

— that there shall be paid to the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, 
and commonalty, the rates and duties mentioned in the 
schedule annexed to the act ; 

— that the mayor, &c, shall appoint a collector, quay 
master, and treasurer, with power to remove, and to fix 
salaries ; securities to be taken from the officers; 

— that the mayor, &c, shall meet on the Tuesday after the 
24th of June in each year, for the examination of the officers' 
accounts ; 

— that the duties, if not duly paid, may be levied by dis- 
traint and stay of the shipping ; 

— that masters of ships shall give in an account of their 
loadings, to the proper officer, under penalty of ten pounds ; 

— that salt and rice, which shall have paid duty on impor- 
tation, shall not be chargeable on exportation ; 

— that the quay master may assign places for the mooring 



MARITIME HISTORY. 363 

of vessels at the quay ; persons not observing his directions 
to forfeit 40s.; 

— that the money raised by the duties shall be laid out in 
cleansing, enlarging, and keeping in good and proper order 
the harbour, and in enlarging, repairing, and keeping in 
good repair, the wharfs, quays, and other works, necessary 
for the more convenient use of the same, in such manner as 
to the mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses, or the major part of 
them, shall seem requisite; — persons chargeable to the 
repairs of quays or wharfs to continue so ; 

— that the mayor, &c, out of the duties, may purchase 
lands for extending the quays and wharfs ; 

— that money, not exceeding £2000, may be borrowed on 
the credit of the tolls ; 

— that goods landed on the quays shall be removed within 
three days, under a penalty of twelve pence per ton ; and 
the same penalty for every forty eight hours afterwards ; 

— that persons throwing ballast, &c, into the harbour shall 
be liable to such penalties as persons convicted of public 
nuisances : 

and reciting further, the advantage of making effectual 
provision for enlightening the streets, and maintaining a 
nightly watch ; as well as of providing a convenient maga- 
zine for the reception of gunpowder; it further enacts 

— that the mayor and justices of the peace of the town, 
together with eleven of the principal inhabitants to be 
chosen annually by the payers of poor rates on Easter 
Tuesday, shall be commissioners for the purposes of the act ; 

— that the commissioners shall appoint watchmen, and re- 
gulate their duties ; appoint the number and sort of lamps, 
and the manner of keeping and lighting them ; such lamps 
to continue lighted from sunsetting to sunrising ; 

— that for defraying the charges therefrom arising, the 
commissioners shall appoint two assessors, who are to assess 
the owners and occupiers of all houses, &c, and upon 
stock in trade, not exceeding twelve pence in the pound, 



364 MARITIME HISTORY. 

yearly ; which rate shall be allowed by two justices ; assess- 
ments may be levied by distress and sale ; occupiers liable 
to pay the whole rate; disputes as to the proportions of the 
rate, to be settled by the mayor and justices ; 

— that the property of the lamps shall be vested in the 
mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty ; 

— that the commissioners, or any seven or more of them, 
may contract for putting* up and lighting the lamps ; 

— that the monies so raised by assessment shall be applied 
in watching and enlightening the town, and for building a 
magazine for gunpowder, and guarding the same ; 

— that the commissioners shall build a magazine for lodging 
gunpowder brought into the town ; and that persons lodg- 
ing gunpowder therein shall pay 6d. per cwt. ; not more 
than lOlbs. of gunpowder shall be kept in any house, store- 
house, yard, wharf, vessel, &c, in the town, or nearer 
thereto than the magazine, upon pain of forfeiture of such, 
and double the value thereof; 

— that persons aggrieved by any rate, &c, may appeal at 
the next quarter sessions. 

The schedule annexed to the act, appoints that for har- 
bour duties, quayage or wharfage, boomage, and ballast 
duties, there shall be paid for every ton of goods, shipped 
or unshipped into or out of any vessel within the limits of 
the harbour of Poole, the sum of three pence. 

For boomage, every decked vessel of the burthen of 10 
tons or under, 6d. 

Above 10 tons, and not exceeding 20 tons, Is. 

20, — . 30, 2 

30, 40, 3 

. 40, 50, 4 

50, 60, 5 

60, 100, 6*0 

100 tons «. ... 7 

For ballast duties, there shall be paid for every ton of 

ballast shipped or unshipped into or out of any vessel, or 



MARITIME HISTORY. 365 

taken from any quay or wharf within the entrance of the 
little channel within Poole Stakes, leading to the town, 6d. 

Exemptions* — All goods shipped or unshipped into or 
out of any part of the channel leading to Ware ham, to the 
westward of the buoy called the south-west buoy off the 
bulwarks at Ham quay, are exempt from the duty of 
three pence per ton. As also all goods brought in open 
boats from Wareham or any part of the isle of Purbeck, 
within North Haven point. 

All vessels employed in fishing or dredging are exempt 
from boomage. 

All ballast shipped or unshipped in any part of the 
channel leading to the west of the buoy above mentioned, 
is duty free. 

Tobacco-pipe clay is exempt from all duties whatever. 

Under this act, the harbour and quays are still managed, 
and the streets of the town lighted ; but the provisions 
relating to the watching of the town were repealed by the 
act « for the regulation of municipal corporations in Eng- 
land and Wales," 5th & 6th Wm. IV„ c. 76 ; by which 
act also the powers vested in the mayor, bailiffs, and bur-* 
gesses, have been transferred to the mayor and town 
council. 

A magazine, for the safe custody of gunpowder, was 
erected by order of the commissioners, at the extremity of 
a narrow slip of land, running into the harbour from 
Baiter, and near where the town windmill formerly stood. 



ADMIRALTY JURISDICTION, 

An exempt admiralty jurisdiction was exercised in the 
port of Poole from time immemorial ; the mayor, during 
his year of office, being the admiral within the jurisdiction. 
Its existence long antecedent to the date of the Winchelsea 
certificate (p. 353) is manifest from the language of that 

3 A 



366 MARITIME HISTORY. 

document. The earliest records of the admiralty court, 
which go back to 1550, speak of the court as having been 
then held at a far distant and unattainable period : and it 
would appear that the possession of this privilege was 
coeval with the rise of Poole, as a free borough. A 
charter, confirmatory of this exempt jurisdiction, granted 
in the reign of Henry VIII., speaks indeed of its having 
for its foundation a charter granted by William Montacute, 
earl of Sarum ; but the extant charter of that earl makes 
no mention of the maritime privileges of the borough, 
other than in its confirmation of the prior grant of Lon- 
gespee. If any other charter was conceded by earl 
William Montacute, including these privileges, it must 
have been long since destroyed. The confirmatory docu- 
ment just spoken of, issued out of the high court of admiralty 
Sep. 4, 1526. It affords the first definite idea of the extent 
of the maritime jurisdiction of the borough, and was, by a 
few years only, antecedent to the first entry in the yet 
existing book of the records of the court. A translation 
of this document is subjoined : — 

" To all the faithful in Christ, to whom these present 
letters shall come, and whom the underwritten now concern 
or may concern in any manner hereafter, Arthur Plantage- 
net, viscount Lysley, knight of the order of the garter, 
lieutenant and vice admiral of the most mighty prince and 
lord, the lord Henry, duke of Richmond and Somerset, 
and earl of Nottingham, high admiral of England, Wales, 
Ireland, Gascony, Normandy, and Acquitaine, greeting, in 
the author of salvation. Whereas our beloved in Christ 
master John Wodhall, our commissary-general of the 
admiralty of England, hath seen, inspected, and perused, 
the privileges and concessions of the kings, and the 
liberties granted of old to the mayor, brethren, bailiffs, 
burgesses, and inhabitants of the town of Poole, in the 
county of Dorset; and by our authority hath examined 
that the mayor, brethren, bailiffs, burgesses and inhabitants 
of the aforesaid town of Poole, have used and were and 
are in the possession of the same liberties from time and 
through time immemorial, as was beforeour said commissary 



MARITIME HISTORY, 367 

fully made manifest and did appear and is manifest and 
doth appear ; Know therefore all present and those to come, 
that J, John Wodhall, commissary or deputy general and 
special of the lord Arthur Plantagenet, viscount Lysley, 
knight of the order of the garter, lieutenant and vice-ad- 
miral of the most mighty prince and lord, lord Henry, duke 
of Richmond and Somerset, and earl of Nottingham, high, 
admiral of England, Wales, Ireland, Gascony, Normandy, 
and Acquitaine, have seen, inspected, and perused all and 
every the privileges, concessions, and donations, granted by 
William Montacute [Mowntigew], earl of Sarum, to the 
mayor, brethren, bailiffs, burgesses, and inhabitants of the 
town of Poole aforesaid, their heirs and successors, as also 
all the confirmations of all the kings from the time of 
William Montacute, earl of Sarum, together with the 
confirmation of the most illustrious and dread prince and 
defender of the faith, the present king, Henry, of that name 
the eighth ; by the power of which privileges, truly, all 
and every the lands, possessions, and ports, as well by land 
as by water and sea, as also the fermholders and all other 
men holding any possession within the demesne of the 
liberties of Poole aforesaid, in the county of Dorset, are 
fully exempted from all kind of jurisdiction and power of 
the admiral of England for the time being and his officers 
whatsoever; insomuch that all punishments, corrections, 
deodands, wavesan, flotsan, jetsan, legasan^, and 
wrecks, and all other casualties and contingencies 
whatsoever, whensoever, and howsoever, by land, water, 
and sea, with all and singular their appurtenances, are most 
fitly demonstrated to belong to the aforesaid mayor, 
brethren, bailiffs, burgesses, and inhabitants of the town of 
Poole aforesaid for the time being, as used fxom custom 
prescribed from time and through time immemorial. All 
these things, as are above written and recited, were done 
in the eighteenth year of the reign of king Henry the 
eighth, on the last day but one of the month of June, in 



* These are the legal distinctions taken between the different kinds of wrecked 
goods, viz., such as have been floated by the waves to the shore ; such as have been 
found floating on the waves ; such as have been cast overboard and abandoned with 
a view to lighten the perishing vessel : and such as have been sunk attached to a 
buoy in the hope of future recovery. Where a ship perished on the sea, and nothing 
escaped alive out of it, the goods that had been in the ship, of all the above descrip- 
tions, belonged to the king by prerogative, or to whomsoever else might be invested 
by charter or prescription with the right of "wreck." 



36S MARITIME HISTORY. 

Poole aforesaid, before me, John Wodhall, the commissary 
or deputy aforesaid. Which premises truly, and all and 
everything in them contained, ratified, and gVanted, having 
due authority, committed to us, we do approve, ratify, and 
confirm. In testimony whereof we have commanded that 
the great seal of office of our admiralty aforesaid be set to 
these presents. Given at London as to the sealing hereof, 
the fourth day of the month of September, in the eighteenth 
year of our said lord king Henry the eighth." 

The entries in the book of the admiralty court com- 
mence in 1550, but there was an antecedent volume of the 
records of the court, which has been certainly lost for 
upwards of two hundred years, and which there is good 
reason to believe was destroyed about the time at which 
the existing volume was commenced, and before the 
general devastation of municipal records that disgraced the 
period of the inroad on corporations in the time of the 
Stuarts. The book bears the following title : — 

" The booke of the admyrall courts kept and holden 
w'thin the towne of Poole, being kept alwayes by the 
mayor of Poole for the tyme being, who is and ever hathe 
byne admyralle w'thin the same towne and the libertyes 
therof tyme ovvt of mynde. The usuall places for the 
kepinge of the sayd admyralls court hathe byn alwayes 
usyd tyme owt of memory of man some tymes uppon the 
keye and some tymes over the passadge nere to a place 
callyd Broome hille." 

At the commencement of the book is the subjoined list 
of the duties of the jurors, entitled " A note of all suche 
things as are to bee gyven in chardge at the admyralls 
courte." 

" Impr'is : — You shall inquyere of all manner of fellons 
doone w'thin this porte of Poole or elswher uppon the see 
w'th botts or shippes or hath felonyowslye taken awayeany 
gold, sylver, marchandizes, ores, anckers, cabels, saylles, 
or any apparylle of shippe or bote or any thinge that 
longeth therto. 

" Also you shall inquyere of all piratts that robbyth 
uppon the sea any of the king's leadge people or any 



MARITIME HISTORY. 369 

other w'ch are in leage and amyty with the kinge of this 
realme. If you knowe any such you shall present ther 
names as also the ownners, masters, victuallers, mayntayn- 
ners, comforters, abettors, and recevers, as also what 
manner of goods or marchandizes is so robbyd. 

" Also you shall inquyere of all shippes, vessells or botts 
that shal bee fownde wayfFe vppon the highe sea or within 
this porte of Poole whereby the admyrall maye have his 
part w'ch is due to hyme w'ch is the one halfe of that w'ch 
shal be fownde. 

" Also you shall inquyere of all those which have founde 
vppon the sea flotson any toon, pippe, hogshede, barryll, 
of wyne, oylle, wode, madder, allom, or other thinge what 
soeu' wherby the admyrall may have what is dewe to 
hyme. 

" Also you shall inquyere of all those w'ch have founde 
in the bottome of the sea lyinge any ancker, cabyll, gold, 
svlver, or any other thinge what soeu' wherby the admyrall 
maye have his p't dewe to hyme. 

" Also you shall inquyere of all those w'ch have fownde 
vppon the sea or w'thin this jurysdiction any dead bodye 
havinge vppon or aboute hyme any gold, silver, Jewell, 
or other ritches what soeu' wherby the admyrall maye 
have his p't dewe to hyme. 

" Also you shall inquyere of the killinge of any man 
w'thin shippe or boote or by any apparryll of the shippe, 
howe and in what sorte and by what meannes and to 
whome such shippe or bote belongyth. 

" Also you shall enquyer of all those that makythe any 
frayes or draweth any weopen to make any frayes w'thin 
the jurysdiction of this admyralltie. 

" Also you shall enquyere of all those w'ch shall receve 
or buy any goodes or marchandizes w'ch is stollen and 
do not make the same knowen to the admyrall. 

" Also you shall enquyere of all shippes that have bene 
stayed to serve the kinge and have not obeyde the same 
staye, wherby the kinge hath byne the worsse servyd. 

" Also you shall inquyere of all those which have re- 
cevyd the kinges waiges, presse or conducte monye, and 
have not servyd accordinglye. 

" Also you shall inquyer of all those draggeth any oys- 



370 MARITIME HISTORY. 

ters or muskells owt of season that is from Holye roode 
da ye in Maie untill Holye roode daje in September next 
following. 

"Also you shall inquyere of all those that takythe any 
brode or ffrye of oysters or muskells in any season of the 
yere in destruction of the bedds of oysters or muskells 
where they bredyth. 

44 Also you shall enquyere of all regrators, forestalled, 
and such fyke, w'ch vseth to regrate or forestalle any fyshe 
or fowll w'thin this our jurisdiction. 

" Also you shall enquyere o^ all them w'ch vseth any 
vnlawfull netts for the destruction of the small ffrye of 
fyshe, for they ought to vse no other netts but whitinge 
mease and herrinoe mease. 

o 

" Also you shall inquyere if any vse to fyshe the Svn- 
dayes, or suffer any engynnes to lye in the sea the Svndayes 
to take fyshe w'thall. 

" Also you shall inquyere of all those w'ch hathe not 
brought ther fyshe vnto the markett place appoinctyd for 
the same, accordinge to the old order, and at a certain 
lawfull howre, and hath not stayed ther certeyne howres 
for the sellings therof according^ to the oid vse and 
eostome. 

" Also you shall inquyere of all those w'ch do vse to lay 
or putte any lyme, thrydde, or such other lyke engynnes 
into the sea to take byrds att such tymes of the yere when 
other poor men do vse to take iowlle w'th ther netts 
wherby they are greatlye hyndryde.'* 

The admiralty court was anciently holden every year; 
but the regularity of this practice was early broken in 
upon. The admiral who omitted to hold a court during 
his year of office, was, indeed, frequently amerced at the 
court next holden ; and orders were repeatedly made for 
holding the court at least once a year, but it was never 
regularly convened many years successively ; and it was 
latterly holden at intervals of several years. It was holden 
by the mayor as admiral, and a jury was empannelled of 
old ship masters and pilots, who generally perambulated 
the bounds of the harbour, and ascertained the marks 



MARITIME HISTORY. 371 

which limit the jurisdiction. The court possessed the same 
jurisdiction as the high court of admiralty, and had a 
general object to prevent encroachments on the harbour, 
and to preserve the boundaries. Fines have been imposed 
in this court fur dred^in^ for oysters at forbidden times, 
but there have been no trials in it of late years, business of 
this nature having been transacted by the mayor at the 
other courts of the borough. There was a murder com- 
mitted in the harbour about forty years ago, in which the 
admiral asserted his right to try. There were on this 
occasion three claimants of the jurisdiction, the admiralty of 
Poole, the high court of admiralty, and the authorities of 
the county of Dorset. Three prisoners were taken and 
tried at the assizes at Dorchester ; but an arrest of judg- 
ment was put in on the ground of jurisdiction, and the 
prisoners were eventually released, without the disputed 
question being determined. 

The admiralty jurisdiction had a boundary not very 
accurately defined; but it comprehended certain points 
which are perfectly well known. It commenced at 
Bromehill, situated near the extent of the borough at 
Hamworthy,^ and extended in the first place to a spot 
called RedclifF Attwell, three or four miles from Poole, up 
the Wareham channel. From this spot along the channels 
to North haven point, as is stated in the Winchelsea certifi- 
cate, all the water belonged to Poole. The North haven 
point is one of the projections that form the entrance to Poole 
harbour. Beyond this point, and in a seaward direction, 
the extent of the jurisdiction was ascertained in the following 
manner, by the jury in perambulation. The water bailiff, 
with several of the jurymen, went off to sea in a boat from 
North haven point, and when they had found out certain 
old marks or bearings, they put a number barrel out of 



* This limit of the borough has been well known for tbe last hunched years and 
upwards, as " Old Hart's grave," being the spot where one Llart, who hung himself 
in the town of Poole, about the 3-car 1710, was buried. 



372 MARITIME HISTORY. 

the boat, and laid it floating on the water. This is supposed 
to be the extreme point at which it could be descried by the 
naked eye from an elevated sand bank at North haven, on 
which others of the jury remained. The distance at which 
the floating- barrel was thus seen is about three miles. It is 
not precisely known how far the jurisdiction extended 
eastward and westward of the humber barrel, but process 
has been executed to the eastward, nearly as far as Bourne 
mouth, about four miles distant from North haven point ; 
and to the westward, about two miles beyond Old Harry 
rocks, abreast of Ballard head, the northern point of 
Swanage bay. 

The first mention made in the extant record book of the 
extent of the admiralty jurisdiction, is in 1609, at the court 
in which year the jurors presented " that the liberties, 
franchises, and priviledges of this towne and poorte of 
Poole is knowne att this daye and from time to time before 
this daye, whereof the memorie of man doth not know to 
the contrarie, is and begineth from a place called 
Shaggrogg, alias Shaggrocke, being aboue Russell 
poynte, and so goeth all alonge that channell vntill you 
come to North hauen poynte, and from the North hauen 
poynte as farre to seaward as a humber barrell maie be 
seene and descried in the sea." 

The next presentment of the boundaries, in 1612, takes 
Bromehill as the commencement. 

The perambulations of the extent of the admiralty juris-* 
diction were always performed with great ceremony, and 
the records of these events present many amusing pictures 
of the habits, tastes, and customs of our forefathers. The 
first perambulation recorded in the volume now extant, 
took place in 1626, and on this occasion the precise site of 
Redcliff Attwell was pointed out by one John Odwell, one 
of the sworn porters of the town, who accompanied the 
admiral, jury, and a large company, " to a place in the 
sea neere Shagrock, to the westward of Russell point, 



MARITIME HISTORY. 373 

towards Wareham, and right against a little hill called 
Rattcliffe Attwell ; and the sayd John Odwell, the porter 
aforesayd, being sett on shore att the sayd Rattcliffe, being 
a small hill with a bancke adioiningtothesea, w'ch bancke 
next vnto the sea is p'tely bare, without heath or grass 
vpon it, and the said John Odwell, porter, did see a cer- 
tayne spring, w'ch he testifyde that one Thomas Greene, 
of Arne, aged threescore yeares or thereabouts, told him 
was called Attwell, hard by a small tree there.'' 

The Whitsuntide festival appears to have afforded a 
favourite opportunity for celebrating the perambulations 
with especial ceremony. In 1631, Whit Monday, May 39, 
was selected for the occasion. On Whit Tuesday, May 
22, 1632, there was also a perambulation, and the pious 
authorities were fain, at this time, to dignify their municipal 
ceremonial with the sanction of religion, the quaint chro- 
nicler of the day's proceedings informing us, that after the 
perambulation, " haveing landed att the great key, we 
presentlye troop'd upp our colours & company and soe 
went to church and gave glory to the Lord." 

Another perambulation was made June 29, 1649, and 
the description of the ceremonies recorded by the venerable 
and amusing Richard Bramble, the then town clerk, affords 
an entertaining fragment on the customs and modes of 
enjoyment of our ancestors, and which albeit they appear 
somewhat rude in these days of superior refinement and 
more delicate notions of gallantry, were then, doubtless, 
not unbecoming even to the dignity of municipal authority. 
It seems that the mayor and his companions engaged in the 
perambulation, alter having visited Bromehill and Redcliff 
Attwell, were joined at North haven by mistress mayoress 
and a large party of ladies from the town, and that having* 
" erected a tilt with the oares and sayles of the boat, we 
refreshed ourselves with such victualls as God had pro- 
vided for that perambulation ; and haveing seene the 
younge men disporting themselves with their hatts in a 

3 B 



374 MARITIME HISTORY* 

kind of foot balle," the mayor and others proceeded to 
the margin of the ocean, and claimed jurisdiction as usual, 
when " it pleased Mr* Moses Durell, having Peter Hiley 
in his one hand, and John Gigger in his other hand, 
(unknown to the company till afterwards,) for a better and 
future remembrance of the claymeinge of the admyrall 
jurisdiction and liberties abovesayd, to lead those two 
youths in his hands about knee deepe into the ocean, and 
then returning back to the tilt againe, and haveing refresh 
ourselves with some discourses concerning the observation 
of that dayes service, and seene the young men agayne 
disport themselves with their hatts att football as aforesayd, 
the tyde being come for our departure from thence, we 
came vpp to Poole with our severall companyes in the 
boates above mentioned, and thence the women departing 
to their severall habitations (after salutations past), Mr. 
maior, with the rest of the magistrates and men in his 
company, went to Mr. Melmoth's inne, where having for a 
little while refreshed themselves with some wine, beere, 
and tobacco, every man taking his leave one of the other 
in a civill, loveing, and courteous manner, they departed 
to their severall and respective homes, without any observa-* 
tion of any remarkable incivility through the passage of 
that day." 

The next perambulation recorded is that of 1667, which 
was made May 29, " in remembrance of his majesty's 
nativitvand restoration (after twelve years of his exilement) 
unto his three kingdoms/' and, after a description of the 
extent of this jurisdiction as on former perambulations, we 
are favoured with a further sketch of the innocent civic 
diversions of bygone days. The mayor, it seems, when at 
North haven, took several little boys by the hand, and 
" being provyded with several dozzens of points, smote 
the said boys on the pahnes of their handes, telling them 
that thereby they should remember the sayd bounds of Poole 
aforesayd, and there disperssed the said points among them* 



MARITIME HISTORY. 375 

And afterwards, repayring unto a tilt which was there 
erected upon the sands, we refreshed ourselves with very 
good provisions which God and the good company had 
provyded for that day's perambulation, w'ch being ended 
the boatmen went to dancing, and afterwards the young 
women did the like under said tilt ; in the mean tyme the 
sayd mayor, aldermen, and burgesses, made some merry 
pastime, one with the other, upon the sands, whilst divers 
other men sported themselves att a play called hopfrog, 
and afterwards refreshed ourselves with the remainder of 
two hogsheads of beere." 

In the description of a perambulation made May 11, 
1681, we read of " points and pins" having been distri- 
buted amongst the boys and girls " slashing their hands 
and pricking their fingers to cause them to remember the 
bounds." 

Perambulations were also made in 1692, 1710, — when 
the bearings of the number barrel, when just visible from 
North haven point are recorded, — 1720, 1725, 1740, 
1753, 1770, 1778, 1789, 1796, 1 809,— when the bearings 
of Redcliff Atwell were taken and recorded, — 1821, 
1827, and 1834. At the perambulation in 1821, a stone 
was set up at Redcliff Atwell, bearing the following 
inscription: — "Redcliff Atwell. This stone marks the 
extent of the rights and liberties of the town and county 
of Poole as defined by a jury of the admiralty court at a 
general perambulation of the boundaries of the said town 
and county this 19th day of July, 1821, being the day of 
the coronation of his majesty, George IV., whom God 
preserve. George Welch Ledgard, mayor and admiral." 

This court no longer exists ; all exempt admiralty juris- 
dictions having been abolished by the " Act for the regu- 
lation of Municipal Corporations in England and Wales," 
5th & 6th Wm. IV. c. 76. 



376 MARITIME HISTORY. 



THE HARBOUR. 

The estuary of the sea, on which the town of Poole 
stands, is very extensive, and highly picturesque. Stretch- 
ing many miles inland, it presents to the observer very 
pleasing varieties of scenery, whilst it offers to the mariner 
a haven almost always accessible. The entrance to the 
harbour is very narrow, and lies between two long ranges 
of sand banks, one projecting from the north-east part of 
the isle of Purbeck, called South haven point, the other 
extending from the mainland of Dorsetshire, and termed 
North haven point. The distance between these is about a 
furlong, and directly opposite this entrance is the island of 
Brownsea, with its striking castellated mansion. This 
island divides the stream, of which the largest and naviga- 
ble branch flows to the northward and leads to Poole. 
The harbour extends from hence, amidst winding shores 
and frequent projecting headlands, up to the marshes 
adjoining Wareham, washing the borders of many a little 
island, and sweeping within a short distance of the sombre 
ruins of Corfe castle. Of the islands within the harbour, 
Brownsea is the largest ; and there also on the south side, 
Fursey, St. Helen's, Long, Round, Green, and Grove 
islands. Stone island is on the east, near the entrance of 
the harbour. On the north part are Swan, Pergam's, and 
Horse islands. On the west part, near the mouths of the 
rivers Frome and Piddle, are three small islands, viz., 
Gigger's island, another belonging to the north living in 
Arne, and another small spot. Near Holton, east of Lyt- 
chett bay, near the mouth of Sherford river, are two more 
islands, Utterheath and Vermigore : the latter is an island 
only at low water. Of the three islands first named, old 
Drayton thus sings in the second song of his Polyolbion : — 

" Whilst Piddle and the Frome each other entertained, 
Oft praising lovely Poole, their best beloved bay, 
Thus Piddle her bespake to passe the time away : — 



MARITIME HISTORY. 377 

( When Poole,' quoth she, 'was young, a lustie sea-born lass, 

* Great Albyon to this nymph an earnest sutor was, 
' And bare himself so well, and so in favour came, 

' That so in little time upon this lovelie dame 

* Begot three mayden isles, his darlings and delight; 

- The eldest Brunhesey called, the second Fursey hight, 

' The youngest and the last, the leSser than the other, 

' St. Hellen's name doth beare, the dilling of her mother.' 

And for the goodlie Poole was one of Thetis' traine, 

Who scorned a nymph of hers her virgin band should staine 

Great Albyon (that forethought the angrie goddesse would, 

Both on the dam and bratts take what revenge she could,) 

I' th' bosome of the Poole his little children plact ; 

First Brunkesey, Fursey next, and little Hellen last : 

Then with his mightie arms doth clip the Poole about, 

To keep the angrie queen, fair Amphitrite out, 

Against whose lordlie might shee musters up her waves, 

And strongly thence repulst (with madness) scoulds and raves." 

The harbour is full of immense banks of ooze, inter- 
sected by a great number of channels. The principal of 
these are the great or north channel, which is of considerable 
depth, admitting of the transit of large vessels, the south 
or Wick channel, and the Wareham channel. The whole 
superficies of the mud banks is dry for several hours every 
tide, so that at such times, in the summer season, when the 
sea-weeds have a verdant freshness, the appearance is that 
of a large tract of meadows, intersected with rivers and 
rivulets. There seems formerly to have been a project, 
and a very wild and unaccountable one, to embank, enclose, 
and recover these banks. It was found by inquisition, 13 
Chas. II., that the waste and oozy grounds in the harbour, 
contained by admeasurement 8026 acres ; and the following 
bays are described in the inquisition : Cost's bay, or little 
sea, bounded almost round with Parkstone, 41 acres ; 
Hole's bay, bounded on the east by Parkstone, with a neck 
of land called Windmill point and Poole on the west, 
with Thick-furzes or Heckford on the north, 238 acres ; 
Longford bay, bounded by Poole on the east, Hamworthy, 
or south Ham on the south, Upton wood, Tottenham, and 
Heckford on the northwest and southeast, 885 acres ; south 



378 MARITIME HISTORY. 

Lytchett bay, bounded by Hamworthy on the east, Holton 
on the west, and Lytchett on the north, 234 acres ; Sheep- 
stall bay, bounded by Arne on the south, north, and west, 
100 acres : Middleburgh bay, bounded by Arne on the 
north-west, and Fitzoure on the south east, which bay 
divides towards the west into three creeks, one lying 
between Arne to the north-west, Middleburgh to the south, 
and Slepe to the south-west, another between Middleburgh 
to the north, and Wych to the south, another between 
YFych to the north, and Fitzoure to the south, 350 acres ; 
Shotwood bay, bounded by Fitzoure on the north-west, 
and Owre on the south-west, 16 acres ; Owre bay, lying 
between Owre on the west, and Newton on the south-east, 
80 acres ; St. Andrew's, or Brownsea bay, bounded almost 
all round with Brownsea, on the east, south, and west, 68 
acres ; and Brand's bay, lying between Newton to the west, 
and Studland and South haven point to the east and south- 
east, and lands called Brands to the south, 305 acres. 
These premises were granted by the crown, in the above 
year, to Charles, duke of Richmond and Lennox, for thirty 
one years paying yearly five shillings, provided that 
within five years, from the date of the grant he embanked 
the premises at his own charge, and repaired and main- 
tained the banks, walls, and fences, a fourth part so 
embanked to be set out for the king. A second grant of 
all or great part of the premises was made, 17 Chas. II., to 
Charles GifFord, Esq., paying yearly six pence per acre, or 
a quarter of the yearly value of the lands so embanked. 

These grants, which were probably made on the ground 
that the soil between high and low water marks was vested 
in the crown, were never acted on : after this time the right 
to the soil between high and low water marks was a subject 
of dispute between the town of Poole and the lords of the 
manor. Of the contests that ensued touching this right, 
and which were finally set at rest by the enclosure act, 
some particulars have been given, pp. 62-5. 



MARITIME HISTORY. 879 

From a survey of the harbour made in 1784, by Mr. 
Whitworth, some curious statistical facts are obtained. 
It appears that the quantity of surface within the harbour, 
including Lytcheit bay, the harbour within Poole, and the 
two rivers up to the north and south bridges at Wareham, 
is 9975 acres, exclusive of Brownsea and all the other 
islands; of this surface, the channels, lakes, and other 
places that do not ebb dry, are estimated to amount to about 
one-eighth part, or 1662 acres, so that there remain 8313 
acres of mud land left dry every tide. An average spring 
tide is said to rise five feet and a half at the haven or en- 
trance of the harbour, and four feet and a half at its innner 
extremity ; and assuming, therefore, a mean depth of five 
feet, the channels and lakes, being 1662 acres, will contain, 
at the rate of 5050 tons of water per acre, a total accession 
each tide of 8,393,100 tons ; and the mudlands, estimating 
them to be coveied each tide to the mean depth of 2 feet 
9 inches, will contain 3327.5 tons of water per acre, mak- 
ing, for the 8313 acres, a total of 27,660,507 tons ; thus 
giving an aggregate of 36,053,607 tons of water flowing 
into and out of the harbour every average spring tide. 

The entrance to the harbour of Poole is rendered some- 
what difficult to those unacquainted with the navigation, 
by the existence of a shoal of sand, customarily designated 
"the bar," though, in point of fact, it does not present 
those dangerous and dreaded peculiarities which distinguish 
bars. The channel over this shoal has been graduallv 
moving to the westward since the memory of man, owing 
to the accumulation of sand from the quantities washed 
down the coast from the eastward, and from the same cause 
the depth of water on the shoal has proportionately de- 
creased, so that soundings are said now to indicate a mean 
depth of about four feet less than existed fifty years since ; 
and it is manifest that the operation of the same natural 
causes will eventually, in the progress of time, unless 
countervailed by some work of art, effectually close the 



380 MARITIME HISTORY. 

passage against the ingress of any vessel of considerable 
burthen. The present soundings on the shoal, at low 
water, spring tide, shew a depth of 12 feet, and at high 
water, 18 or 19 feet. It would appear that the ratio in 
which the accumulation of sand takes place, has greatly 
increased of late years ; and that its deposit, until within 
the last century, was scarcely perceptible ; for in an old 
survey of the coast in the neighbourhood of Poole, amongst 
the Cottonian MSS. in the British museum, and which, 
though without date, there is good reason to believe, was 
executed in the sixteenth century, the depth on the shoal at 
low water, is stated then not to exceed 15 feet ; the entry 
being thus : — " Att thys chanell ys a bare yt drawythe att 
lowe water ij fadom and di. depe." But whilst the naviga- 
tion over the shoal is gradually tending to the westward, the 
flow of water from the harbour at ebb tide is gradually 
opening a new channel now termed the swashway, in the 
\evy direction from which ancient charts show the old 
channel to have deviated ; this new channel is progressively 
deepening, so that when the junction of the extending shoal 
with the sands in Studland bay shall have taken place, this 
new channel will probably be found to have acquired such 
a depth from the constant scouring of the tidal waters of 
the harbour, as to afford ingress to vessels of draught almost 
equal to those that may at present pass the shoal. As this 
circumstance, however, will depend on the force of the 
water flowing out of the harbour at every tide, regulated 
chiefly by the quantity of backwater, it will at all times be 
an important consideration for those in whose duty the 
conservation of the harbour rests, to devise the best mode 
of preserving the backwater so that it may effectually 
scour the channels of the harbour and prevent the too 
great accumulation of sand at the entrance, as a measure 
essentially requisite for the maintenance of those com- 
mercial advantages which Poole has long enjoyed. The 
report of Mr. Whitworth, in 1784, to which reference has 



MARITIME HISTORY. 391 

been already made, and the reports of subsequent surveys 
made by Mr. Rendel, in 1827 and 1831, powerfully and 
clearly demonstrate the importance of attention to this 
matter. Mr. Rendel lays it down as " a well established 
fact, that the existence of all harbours circumstanced as 
Poole is, depends upon the quantity of backwater, and that 
in proportion as this backwater is decreased, (either by 
natural causes or otherwise,) will the inconveniences at- 
tending- the entrance and general accommodation of the 
harbour, increase. In the present instance," he adds, "we 
have principally to look to natural causes for the decrease 
of the backwater, arising from the great extent of mud- 
lands, in various stages of accumulation, within the ancient 
receptacle of the tide. That all harbours have a tendency 
to fill up and become dry ground, will be evident from the 
consideration that the floods and torrents which make their 
way from the surface of the land, in consequence of rains, 
&c, carry with them into the low grounds, quantities of 
earthy, clayey, and other matter, which are, generally 
speaking, deposited where the producing cause expends 
itself, viz., in the tideway or sea. It is to this cause we 
may trace the fertility of our valleys, which have evidently 
been covered with the finer particles of soil washed from 
the surface of the high lands in time of floods. There is 
another source to which we may look for the formation of 
mud banks and other accumulations in harbours and tidal 
receptacles. The sea, being the reservoir for all the rivers 
and wash from the surface of the land, its waters are 
naturally impregnated with quantities of light earthy mat- 
ter held in solution bv its constant agitation, but which are 
precipitated where that agitation ceases,"^ or where the 
water finds a place of repose, which we may reasonably 
expect will happen in the higher and shallow parts of a 



* The specific gravity of water is to the finest mud as 1 to 1.17 ; it therefore follows 
that -where the agitation or velocity of the water is not sufficient to overcome the 
difference of specific gravities, the mud held in solution will be deposited. 

3 G 



382 MARITIME HISTORY. 

harbour. To these causes, aided by the immense quanti- 
ties of animal and vegetable marine matter, we may trace 
the origin of mud banks and other accumulations in all 
harbours, but more particularly in that under notice." 
Mr. Rendel then proceeds to point out that as these accu- 
mulations proceed, the capacity of water-way is reduced, 
and consequently the contention at the harbour's mouth, 
between the shifting" sands and the backwater, is lessened on 
the part of the latter. The preservation, as far as possible, 
of the quantity and consequent power of the backwater, 
must therefore be a paramount object in any considerations 
regarding the superiority of the harbour as a place of 
commercial resort. 

A striking and very advantageous peculiarity is con- 
nected with the tides in the harbour of Poole, where there 
is a double tide every twelve hours. The regular high 
tide takes place on full and change days at nine o'clock. 
The tide ebbs out after the first high water for one hour 
and a half; it then flows in again for an hour and a half, 
making a second high tide three hours after the first, 
which at neap tides is higher than the first tide, but at 
spring tides not quite so high. The main ebb then makes 
away for three hours and a half, and it is low water on full 
and change days at half-past three. The tide then rises 
six hours, and the same course takes place. This double 
tide is occasioned by the peculiar formation and situation 
of the harbour. On the ebbing of the tide down the 
English channel, the current flowing between the Isle of 
Wight and the Hampshire coast, sets strongly into Stud- 
land and Swanwich bays, where, meeting with the resist- 
ance given by the land, a check occurs, and the tide 
diverges into two currents, the one flowing into the English 
channel, and forming part of the main tide, the other, 
overcoming the resistance of the narrowed current flowing 
out of Poole harbour, drives back that current by its 
superior impetus, and finds vent within the harbour, thus 



MARITIME HISTORY* 383 

causing 1 the second flood, until the balance is restored, 
when the ebbing proceeds uniformly. The rise of water 
at spring tides at the entrance of the harbour is from 6 to 
7 feet, according to the wind and weather. 

The harbour of Poole lies seven leagues N.W. by W. 
from the Isle of Wight, and sixteen leagues from Ports- 
mouth. The situation of the port of Poole ; the advantage 
it derives from its double tide ; it being accessible with 
safety in almost every wind ; the shelter and protection it is 
capable of affording to any number of vessels ; the extent, 
capacity, and convenience of its quays, alongside of which 
vessels of large burthen may keep afloat at all times of the 
tide; the large, airy, and spacious stores, situated by the 
water side, affording facilities for the warehousing of goods 
at trifling expense ; the superior accommodations pro- 
vided for building, repairing, calking or careening ship- 
ping, with ease and expedition ; render it a most desira- 
ble place of commercial resort, as offering advantages 
that cannot be equalled in any port in the English channel, 
particularly when the comparatively small amount of dues 
demanded is taken into the consideration. 

The harbour may be safely entered by any vessel not 
exceeding nineteen feet draught. 



BROWNSEA ISLAND AND CASTLE. 

In treating of the harbour of Poole, it must not be 
omitted to make mention of one of its most commanding' 
features, the island of Brownsea, with its present pleasing 
castellated mansion ; and it is the more imperative in a work 
like the present, to dwell upon the memorials of that island 
and its ancient fort, connected as they have been in bvgfone 
days with the annals of the town, the former history of 
which is the main subject of the volume. 

The island of Brownsea, fertile and wooded though it now 
appears, was formerly a barren spot with only one house 



384 MARITIME HISTORY* 

and an old block-house fort* intended for the defence of the 
harbour, immediately fronting* and commanding* the 
entrance to which it has been placed by nature. 

Brovvnsea island, in all probability, derives its name from 
having" been formerly in the possession of Bruno, the island 
of Bruno, — Brunei insula* We find from Domesday 
book, that Studland, to which the island of Brownsea 
belongs, was held at that time, together with many other 
manors, by the earl of Morton, and that in the time of 
Edward the confessor, many of the possessions that were 
granted to that earl, had been held by Bruno, and, amongst 
others, the manor of Buckhorn Weston, in the fortunes of 
which Brownsea seems to have long shared. The word 
has been variously spelt, Brownsea, Brankesey, Bronksey, 
Brinksea, &c. It is an island of an irregular oval form, 
lying at the east end of the harbour of Poole, three miles 
north of Studland, and about as much south-east from 
Poole. Its length is about a mile and a half, and its 
breadth three quarters of a mile. Brownsea is not men- 
tioned in Domesday book, and Was then probably included 
in the survey of Studland, and it is likely that some of the 
twenty-two salterns said to be in that parish were on the 
shores of this island. But we find it mentioned before this pe- 
riod, and that it was remarkable for the Danes landing here, 
or retreating hither, from Frome mouth, or Wareham, A.D. 
1015. A manuscript life of St. Ethelwold, brother of king 
Edmund, cited in Iceland's coll : iv, 65, says " Canutus 
spoliato monasterio Cerneliensi contulit se ad portum 
Fromunitham nomine, occidentalis Anglise, inde navigantes 
ad Brunkeseiam, hoc est, ad Brunei insulam." Leland 
adds, " Brunei insula ad 2 m. distat a Pola, et oceano 
circumdatur ; nulla sedificia habet prseter sacellam." This 
seems to be the " old manuscript" cited by Coker, who 
thus translates both passages together: — " Canutus, having 
spoiled the church and monastery of Cerne, took to the 
haven, and sailed thence to Branksey, i.e., Brank's island, 



MARITIME HISTORY* 385 

which is two miles from Poole, having on it no buildings, 
save a chapel only." 

In 1154, 1st Henry VI., the king granted to the abbot of 
Cerne, the right of wreck on his island of Brownsea, 
which grant was confirmed by inspeximus, 1st Henry V1IL 
In 1293, the temporalities of the abbot of Cerne, here* 
were valued at 51s. lid. On the seizure of ecclesiastical 
property at the dissolution of the monasteries, Henry VIII, 
in the 36th year of his reign, granted the island and the 
water surrounding it, to John, earl of Oxford ; who the 
same year had license to alienate it to Richard Duke, of 
the same island, and his heirs, with wreck of the sea. This 
alienation accordingly took place. In the 15th Elizabeth, 
George Sprint, in right of his wife, Christian, daughter of 
Richard Duke, held this island, value 9s., and the manor 
of Weston, &c. In the 23rd of the same reign, he had 
licence to alienate it to Richard Haycolt, and others, 
" ad usus dicti Rieardi." And in the 29th of the same 
sovereign, the premises were granted to John Morley, for 
a term of twenty-one years. The island appears then to 
have fallen into the hands of Charles Brook ; and in the 
9th James I., was granted to Robert, earl of Salisbury. In 
the reign of Charles II., it belonged to sir Robert Clayton, 
of whose heirs it was purchased, before 1722, for £300, by 
William Benson, esq., auditor of the imprest, who resold it 
to — Chamberlayne, of London. He conveyed the island, 
in 1762, to sir Gerard Napier and Humphrey Sturt, esq., 
to the last of whom, on the death of sir Gerard, the whole 
of the property devolved ; Mr. Sturt greatly improved the 
island, and made considerable additions to the castle, pre- 
serving the great hall, built by auditor Benson, and made 
large plantations of various kinds of trees , and he manured 
and cultivated the island with great success. 

The island and castle were sold by Mr. Sturt, some 
years since to sir Charles Chad, bart., of Pinkney Half, 
near Fakenham, Norfolk, the present possessor. 



380 MARITIME HISTORY* 

There formerly existed some copperas and alum works 
on the island, which were undertaken by the earl of Hunt- 
in "don, who revived the similar works commenced at Park- 
stone by lord Mountjoy* This is ascertained from a letter 
complaining of a suspicious character, a lessee in the 
undertaking:, and which was sent to sir Francis Ashlev, the 
vice-admiral of Dorset This letter, being a curiosity in its 
way, is here given : — 

" Right Worshi : Our hearty commendations done, &c» 
These are to advertize you, that we do know James 
Mounsey, of London, who farmeth the mines of Brownsea, 
at my lord of Huntingdon's hands, and this man whom you 
have sent is the same Mounsey, whose religion we doubt, 
for that we have not seen him at any time at the church in 
the time of his being" here. He hath a brother, a very bad 
fellow, and of an odious religion, who serveth in Brownsea 
mines under him. He persuadeth the workmen there to 
labour the Sabbath day, and to rest the Saturday, which 
be saith is the Sabbath day. We understand this Mounsey 
to be indebted to the victuallers of this town and the 
workmen of Brownsea mines. It may please your worship 
to have regard to Brownsea castle ; it is a place of great 
danger, and weakly manned, which may give ingress and 
egress to the enemy, to the prejudice of the whole country, 
not being foreseen to be provided with credible persons 
for the defence of that charge. And so we bid you most 
heartily farewell. Poole, the 4th of February, 1586. 

" Your worship's loving friends, 

Jno. Fylde, mayor, 
Jno. Rogers, 
Wm. Dicker, 
Roger Maudeley." 

The earliest description we find of the island, is by 
Leland, who says " There ly three isles in the haven of 
Pool, whereof the most famous is Brunkeshey. Sum say 
that there has been a paroch in it. There is yet a chappel 
for an heremite. It longith to Cerne abbey. The chapel 
was dedicated to St. Andrew, of which and the hermitage, 



MARITIME HISTORY. 387 

there are no remains." The chief of the little bays in the 
island, however, is to this day known as St. Andrew's bay. 

The castle, which is on the south-east side of the island, 
forms a delightful marine residence ; it possesses, however, 
little strength as a fortress of defence, though strong and 
effective batteries might easily be placed on the island, so 
as completely to command the entrance to the harbour. 

There appears to have been no fort erected on the 
island until the reign of Henrv VIII., when a block-house 
was erected bv the king, for the preservation of the town 
and the shipping and trade thereof, and his majesty also 
furnished the same with ordnance and ammunition ; the 
inhabitants of the town agreeing, on their parts, to furnish 
six men to watch and ward in the same castle. This was 
before 1538 ; and it seems to have been afterwards con- 
sidered that the town of Poole was to keep the fort in 
repair and to garrison it ; and the town accordingly, at 
various times, expended large sums in the repairs of the 
castle, &c. Under date of the year 1547, we find among 
the archives of the town of Poole, an imperfect document, 
containing the following inventorv of ordnance received bv 
"the mayor and his brethren" of the town, for the use of 
the castle. 

" Here followeth such parcels of ordinance, shot, and 
gun powder, as was received towards the defence of the 
' castell of Bronkse.' 

"Received from Portsmouth the 10th August, 1547, by 
the commandment of the lord Sevmour, admiral of Eng- 
land, one piece of iron named a Demi-Cu|verin, with the 
sponge and ladle for the same, and fifty shot of iron, and 
two half barrels of powder. 

" Item Received that day one saker of iron with sponge 
and ladle, and 22 shott of iron for the same piece. 

" Item Received more from Portsmouth, by the deliver- 
ance of John Thomas, the 25th Aug., 1547, 4 half barrels 
of gunpowder, weighing every half barrel I cwt. 5 lbs. 

" Item Reed' more that dav, bv the deliverance of John, 






388 MARITIME HISTORY. 

Thomas, 27 sacker shot of iron, and 3 shot of iron for the 
Demi-Culverin, 

" Item Reed* more from the tower of London, in the 
month of Sept., 1547, by the commandment of my lord 
Protector's grace, one whole culverin of brass, with the . . 

" Item Reed' more that day, 2 sakers of iron, 2 sponges, 
2 ladles, with 2 cwt. shot of iron. 

" Item Reed' more that day, one .... of gunpowder, 
containing* 24 half barrels. 

" Item All the ordinance before written with ladles, 
sponges, and shot, was deliv'd to the * castell of Bronkse/ 
into the custody of Leonard Nicholas, 

" Item Deliv'd him more a piece of ordinance of the 
toivn's named a Port piece with 2 chambers, 

" Item Deliv'd him more a piece of ordinance called a 
Slinge with 2 chambers. 

" Item Deliv'd him also a small piece called a Serpen- 
tine with 2 chambers. 

" Item Deliv'd him on his coming into the 6 castell,' one 
barrel and a half of the town's powder, weighing 1 cwt, 
2 qrs. 7 lbs, 

" Item Deliv'd him more that came from Portsmouth, 
two half barrels of gunpowder, weighing 2 cwt. 10 lbs., and 
two half barrels at another time weighing 2 cwt. 10 lbs." 

Of the appearance and condition of the castle about this 
time, we are enabled to form some notion from the contents 
of a document, dated 1552. In that year, during the 
mayoralty of Thomas Whyte, jun„ sir John Rogers, knt., 
George de la Lynde, and Richard Phelippe, esqrs., were 
appointed commissioners for examing the state of Brownsea 
castle and other defences on this coast • and in answer to 
articles exhibited by them, the mayor and his brethren of 
Poole, state, among other things, that « the square of the 
great tower there is 44 feet, which amounteth to 176 feet; 
and that, after the rate of 15 feet to the perch, maketh the 
number of 11 perches and 11 feet; and must be made 8 
feet higher, which will amount to 49 perches after the rate 
aforesaid ; and must also be made with freestone. The 



MARITIME HISTORY. 389 

thickness of the wall of the same tower is 6J feet. The 
barbican of the said house is in compass 160 feet, which, 
after the rate of 15 feet to the perch as aforesaid, amount- 
ed! to 10 perches and 10 feet, and must be made higher by 
8 feet, and that also with freestone, which will amount to 

; the thickness of the wall of the said barbican 

is 9 feet, and thereof the south-west side of the same, which 
containeth in length 40 feet, which maketh 2 perches and 
10 feet, must rise higher by 13 feet, which, after the rate 
aforesaid, maketh 34 perches and 5 feet, for that the hill 
being* in the south-west side, and also so high above the 
said barbican, shall else beat on the inner part of the said 
barbican, that no man shall be able to serve within it; and 
the residue of the said barbican amounteth to 120, which 
maketh, after the rate aforesaid, 8 perches, and must rise 
higher by 8 feet, which maketh, after the said rate, 64 
perches ; and the thickness of the wall of the said barbican 
must be 9 feet, and must also be made with freestone." 
It appears that these improvements and repairs were 
effected, at an expense to the town of £133 6s. 8d. 

During the hostilities that prevailed about this period, 
great attention was devoted to the defences of the southern 
coast, and many papers yet exist to manifest the care then 
bestowed upon the castle at Brownsea. In the 4th Eliz., 
a petition from the mayor and burgesses of Poole was 
presented to the privy council, setting forth that the town 
of Poole was charged with the keeping of Brownsea castle, 
and that the same was at that time out of repair and that 
the cannon there were likewise much out of repair, and, 
therefore, they prayed that the cannon might be exchanged, 
and the castle repaired. An order was accordingly made 
for the delivery to the mayor of several pieces of cannon, 
with ammunition, for the use of the castle. These being 
provided, the mayor, on behalf of himself and the bur- 
gesses, appointed a gunner or keeper of the castle, agreeing 
to pay him a yearly salary, he covenanting to obey the 

3 D 



390 MARITIME HISTORY. 

orders and directions of the mayor and burgesses, touching 
the castle. At the same time an order was issued from the 
lieutenancy, for the town of Poole to serve at the castle of 
Brownsea, and to watch and ward the same with six men 
as formerly. In these proceedings the castle is styled 
" the queen's majesty's castell of Brownecksey." 

An inventory taken May 23, 1563, states that there were 
then in the castle eight pieces of ordnance of divers sorts, 
with a due supply of shot, and 12 cwt. of powder. 

But, in 1571, it appears that the castle had been some- 
what neglected, and was going to decay for want of due 
attention ; and the privy council was again besought on 
this behalf by the mayor and burgesses of Poole. 

In 1576, it appears that the castle was held by 
Christopher Hatton, having been granted to him for his 
life by the queen. A dispute thereupon ensued between 
him and the town, touching the right to the castle ; and a 
letter, dated from Hertford castle, August 21, 1576, to the 
mayor and others of Poole, stated that upon the receipt of 
a letter from them, dated the 8th of that month, concerning 
the castle of Brownsea, the council had conferred with Mr. 
Hatton, touching his claim thereto, who had produced her 
majesty's letters patent, containing a grant of the same to 
him ; and that as the council did not find that the people of 
Poole had ever procured any assurance thereof, but at the 
will of the prince, they saw not why the grant should not 
take effect ; and therefore ordered the delivery of the 
ordnance and ammunition belonging to the castle, to such 
person as Mr. Hatton should appoint. A delivery thereof 
was accordingly made of the following ordnance, &c. : — 

" In the barbican one culverin of brass, with iiij xx xi shot 
of cast iron ; a demi culverin of iron, with iij xx xij shot of 
cast iron ; one sacre of brass, and one sacre of iron, with 
iij xx ix shot of cast iron. On the platform two sacres of 
iron, with iij xx xv shot of cast iron; one falconet of 
brass. In the hall, five harquebusses, nine long pikes, 
wildfire pike furnished, twelve brown bills, and twelve 



MARITIME HISTORY 



391 



bows and six sheaves of arrows ; a culver in ladle of brass 
with a sponge ; a demi culverin ladle with a sponge ; two 
ladles for sacres with sponges; a ladle for the falconet 
with a sponge ; three chain shot for the sacres of lead ; 
four hollow shot of lead for the sacres; six hollow shot of 
lead for the sacres ; six hollow shot of lead for the falconet. 
In the chamber over the hall, eighteen sheaves of arrows, 
and a half barrel of powder ; six whole cross bar shot for 
the culverin, and five chains. ,, 

It was during sir Christopher Hatton's tenure of Brown- 
sea castle, that the disputes occurred between his officers 
and the authorities of the town, touching the right to con- 
vey passengers across the channel at the entrance of the 
harbour, and the respective jurisdiction in carrying into 
effect the various royal warrants issued about that time for 
the detention and examination of shipping,— disputes which 
resulted more than once in the loss of life [pp. 107-8]. 

Among the preparations made in 1588, for the purpose 
of providing an efficient resistance to the projected Spanish 
invasion of England, was a survey, by sir John Norris, of 
the resources and power of the county of Dorset. From 
his advice on this subject, the following is an extract : — 
" On the east side of the bay of Portland, some places are 
of indifferent strength, and might be made to serve for a 
retreat to the country, and hinder the enemy landing : viz., 
Corfe castle, Brownsea castle, and the towns of Wareham 
and Poole ; but the fortifications of the latter are indifferent, 
and of no use, except Brownsea were provided with arms 
and artillery." 

In the civil wars, Brownsea castle, in connection with 
the town of Poole, was early garrisoned for the parliament, 
and the governors of that town were also appointed to the 
governance of the castle. Sept. 28, 1644, an order was 
made by the house of commons, for the delivery, from the 
Isle of Wight, of four pieces of ordnance for the defence 
of the castle. The accounts of Bury, the treasurer for the 
county, mention that, on Nov. 5, in the same year, four 



392 MARITIME HISTORY. 

large chests of musquets were brought to Brownsea castle 
from Weymouth ; and that on the 1st of January following, 
£30 were remitted hither. Feb. 26, 1645-6, the house of 
commons ordered that the castle should continue gar- 
risoned with twenty men ; and on March 13, following, 
the house also resolved that the castle should be under the 
command of the governor of Poole. April 29, 1647, 
sixty pounds were paid to Captain Harding, then com- 
manding here, for the payment of his men. 

The possession of the castle became the subject of con- 
tention between the municipal authorities of Poole and 
Mr. Benson, after that gentleman had purchased the island 
from the heirs of sir Robert Clayton. He laid claim to 
and took possession of the castle, and commenced great 
alterations ; on which the following petition was presented 
to king George 11 : — 

" The humble petition of the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, 
and inhabitants of your majesty's ancient and truly loyal 
corporation, town, and county of Poole; 

" Humbly sheweth — that your majesty's royal prede- 
cessor, Henry V11I., having, for the preservation of this 
town and county, and of the shipping and trade thereof 
from the the danger of enemies, in his great goodness, 
erected and built a castle and fortress on the island of 
Brownsea, directly opposite to the mouth or entering in of 
our harbour, about a league from the town, and the same 
furnished with ordnance and ammunition, your petitioners' 
ancestors, in return , of his said majesty's clemency, did 
agree to furnish six men to watch and ward in the same 
castle, which has ever since been done, and by means 
whereof our said town with our shipping have, from time 
to time, ever since, been preserved from the insults of 
enemies, and more especially from the ravages which 
would have been committed Sy privateers, which are, in 
time of war, continually lurking up and down, and infest- 
ing our coast, and have even attempted to take ships 
within our havens, which they would have often effected, 
had they not been beaten off by cannon from that castle, 
and not only the ships of this place, but others have been 



MARITIME HISTORY. 393 

forced in and obliged to take sanctuary under the same, 
which was the only fortress we had ; nor have we any 
other security for our town and trade against the enemy in 
the time of war. But now so it is, may it please your 
majesty, that William Benson, esq., having lately bought the 
said island of Brownsea, has set up a title to the said castle, 
it being situate on his island, and the same castle and for- 
tress has actually spoiled and converted to a dwelling 
house, and utterly denies to your petitioners leave to enter 
therein, insisting sometimes on a grant thereof from your 
majesty or your royal predecessors, though no such thing 
can be found among your majesty's records, and other 
times that it is of no use ; though should it be in his power 
to hold the same from your majesty, and your petitioners 
be thereby deprived of the protection thereof, our town 
and harbour will be left open and defenceless, and at all 
times liable, in case of war, (from which God Almighty 
protect your majesty,) to be made an easy prey to the 
smallest force of a cruel enemy, and thereby the trade of 
our town (which is now, thanks be to God, in a flourishing 
condition,) will be entirely destroyed and come to ruin. 
We, therefore, in the humblest manner, pray your gracious 
interposition and protection ; which is the prayer of 
Your majesty's dutiful, loyal, 
and most sincerely affectionate subjects." 

This petition appears to have been presented about 
1722; and it further appears that the matter was after- 
wards referred to the king's attorney-general ; for, on 
May 25, 1726, Mr. Trenchard and Mr. Bond, as counsel for 
the corporation, and Mr. Benson, of Brownsea island, with 
his counsel, attended the attorney-general on the subject 
of the castle. 

Mr. Benson insisted that the property of the castle was 
in him, and never was in the government; and that the 
owners of it in former times only indulged the government 
and the town of Poole, when any ordnance or ammunition 
was brought there; disputing also that the castle was 
built in the time of Henry VIII., and contending that it 
was originally a dwelling-house only. 

The counsel for the town expressed their surprise at 



394 MARITIME HISTORY. 

these assertions, and said the only tiling- they were afraid of 
was, that Mr. Benson might have had a grant from the 
crown; but, as it was not so, they had no doubt they 
should be able to make out to the satisfaction of the attor- 
ney-general, that Brownsea castle was always esteemed a 
castle of defence belonging to the government, who sup- 
plied it from time to time with stores and ammunition 
before it became ruinous, and that the town of Poole had 
alwavs the care and management of it. 

The business was postponed for the parties to procure 
further evidence, and was afterwards dropped, without the 
parties again meeting before the attorney-general ; but on 
what ground the proceedings were discontinued, whether 
Mr. Benson took the precaution to confirm his claim by a 
grant from the crown, whether the ruined condition of the 
castle was such as to detract from the desirableness of its 
possession, or from what other cause, does not appear ; nor 
could the agent of the town, when applied to in 1744, 
recollect the reason of the affair not being proceeded with. 
Mr. Benson, and the subsequent possessors of the island, 
have since maintained an undisputed title to the castle. 



THE PORT, TRADE, AND CUSTOMS. 

Poole is a port of long standing, and was, even in very 
early times, the seat of considerable traffic. But its rise 
may be chiefly dated from the time of Henry VI., who, by 
letters patent, issued in the 11th year of his reign, consti- 
tuted it a port of the staple, and transferred to it the privi- 
leges of Melcombe Re^is. 

Poole is the principal, and was for many years the only 
officially recognized sea port in Dorsetshire, Weymouth 



MARITIME HISTORY. 395 

and Lyme being 1 members of it. But the commission under 
this connection subsisted having" expired about 80 years 
which ago, a new system has since prevailed, and those 
have been separate ports^. 

The early commerce of the port of Poole was of a 
general character; but soon after the commencement of the 
sixteenth century, we find that a very considerable traffic 
had been instituted between the islands of Guernsey and 
Jersey, which were principally furnished with their sup- 
plies from this port, especially in corn, flour, bread, and 
beer. The brewing of this beverage was, indeed, about 
that time, and for a long series of years, carried on to a 
very large extent in Poole, and great quantities were 
annually exported, not only to the islands above named, 
but to many towns in this kingdom. About this time, — very 
soon after the establishment of fisheries off the coasts of 
Newfoundland, that island having been discovered by 
Cabot, in 1497, — a connection was established between 
Poole and those fisheries, as from some entries (under date 
of 1583) which occur at the earliest period from which the 
existing municipal documents of the town assume anything 
like regularity, it is manifest that the Newfoundland fish- 
eries were at that time the source of considerable employ- 
ment for the ships and mariners of this port. This branch 



* The ports, members, and creeks of Great Britain were settled by commission 
out of the exchequer, pursuant to the acts of parliament, 1st Eliz., c. 13 ; 14th Chas. 
II., c. 14; 6th Anne, c. 26. Under this commission Toole was the only port in 
Dorsetshire, of which Weymouth and Lyme were members. To Weymouth be- 
longed the creeks of Portland and West Lullworth ; to Lyme, the creeks of Bridport 
and Charmouth. The creeks of Swanwich and Wareham did not depend on any of 
the members, but belonged to the port of Poole. 

A port was a place to which only the officers of the customs were appropriated, 
and which included all the privileges and guidance of all the members and creeks 
thereto a-lotted. 

A member of a port was a place where anciently a custom house had been kept, 
and officers or their deputies attended; and such were lawful plaees for importation 
and exportation. 

A creek was a place where commonly officers had been placed by way of preven- 
tion, not out of duty or right of attendance ; and such were not lawful places for 
importation or exportation, without particular licence or sufferance from the port or 
member under which it was placed. 



396 MARITIME HISTORY. 

of commerce, so long" the staple business of the Poole 
merchants, will be more fully spoken of below. 

During the reign of Elizabeth, the trade of this port 
was much enhanced by the encouragement given by that 
monarch tothe wealthy and enterprising burghers of Flanders, 
many of whom appear to have settled here, and to have 
carried on a considerable traffic in wool and coarse cloths. 

Down to the severance of the North American states 
from Great Britain, much intercourse subsisted between 
Poole and the Carolinas, and so many as forty large sail of 
vessels have been observed lying at the quay here, dis- 
charging cargoes of rice at the same moment. 

The chief trade of the port, — that which generally 
occupied the larger portion of its shipping, which, more 
than any other, poured into it a tide of commercial pros- 
perity, and which, after the Carolina connection, especially 
prevailed here, was that established with the Newfoundland 
fisheries. This branch of commerce, as is stated above, 
was established here from an early period, and at the date 
mentioned, 1583, we begin to find entries in the records 
that have been preserved, intimating that this trade had, 
about that time, attained an extent of some importance, 
there being reason to believe that ten or twelve vessels 
were annually employed in prosecuting the fisheries, 
sailing from hence in the spring of the year, and returning 
laden with their cargoes of fish and oil, in the autumn. 
This trade had so increased at the commencement of the 
seventeenth century, that in the year 1613, Sept. 22, a 
bye-law of the corporation was passed, exclusively for the 
regulation of the duties payable on the importation and 
exportation of Newfoundland fish : and in a lelter to the 
lords of the privy council, dated March 13, 1618-9, it 
is said that " the adventures of this town are not in any 
staple, but in fysheing voyages for the Newfoundland and 
soe home." This branch of trade continued to prosper, 
until the encouragement given to the Carolina commerce 



MARITIME HISTORY. 397 

on those states bein£ taken under the immediate manage- 
ment of the British crown, induced many of our merchants 
to extend their commercial transactions to those colonies. 
On the violent termination of that encouragement by the 
revolt of the American States, the whole of the mercantile 
capital of this port was concentred in the Newfoundland 
trade, which, by a combination of favouring circumstances, 
was raised, during the latter part of the late war, to a pitch 
of extraordinary prosperity. But since the termination of 
the war, and more especially within the in A ten or eleven 
years, that trade, not merely in regard to that portion of it 
conducted at this port, but generally in so far r.s British 
merchants have been connected with it, has been reduced 
to a state of depression altogether unprecedented, and of a 
restoration from which there appears now little prospect. 

As adequate causes for this unusual depression are not 
to be found in any of the ordinary solutions of commercial 
fluctuations, it may be well briefly to draw attention to the 
circumstances and the course of policy by which this result 
has been effected. 

At the commencement of the trade with Newfoundland, 
no successful attempt had been made to form a settlement 
in the island, and the trade was a mere fishery, carried 
on from this country. The vessels employed in it sailed 
in the spring of each year, and returned with the pro- 
duce of their voyage the latter end of the summer, or 
as soon as they had caught and cured their cargoes. In 
this state of the fishery, only two classes of persons were 
engaged, the merchant adventurer and his immediate ser- 
vants, all of whom returned to this country at the end of 
the fishing season. The fishermen afterwards found it 
convenient to erect stages, &c, and cure the fish on the 
shores of Newfoundland. In process of time they builf 
houses, and at length remained there during the winter ; 
and thus a race of Newfoundland-born inhabitants arose, 
whose whole attention was directed to the Newfoundland 

3 E 



398 MARITIME HISTORY. 

fishery. The merchants supplied them with what they 
required in food, clothing, fishing implements, &c., and 
took their fish and oil in payment, which they in their turn 
sold advantageously in the markets of Europe, particularly 
during the late war, and large fortunes were gained. The 
trade yielding great profits, a desire to increase it was the 
natural consequence ; and, for that purpose, young men 
were sent from England, Scotland, and Ireland. At 
length the war in Europe was brought to a termination, — 
the intercourse of nations restored, — the army of England 
withdrawn from Spain and Portugal, — their ancient govern- 
ments re-established, — the people enabled to direct their 
attention to agriculture and commerce. Thus the demand 
for fish diminished, and great suffering was the conse- 
quence, in the Newfoundland trade among others. The 
surplus population of the island became tumultuous, and 
destroyed the property of the merchants, and, almost in a 
state of desperation, many saved what they could, and 
retired from it. The universal suffering among the inhabi- 
tants, called the attention of the British government to their 
situation. They inquired into the circumstances, and soon 
perceived that the trade could not survive, under the 
necessity, of which the inhabitants complained, of pur- 
chasing their supplies in Great Britain at high prices, and 
selling the produce of their labour to countries in which 
prices were comparatively low. Acts of parliament were 
thereupon passed, to enable the inhabitants to procure their 
supplies, either by themselves, or by British merchants, 
from foreign countries. By these means a large propor- 
tion of the trade, which formerly centred in Poole, was 
directed into other channels. The merchants, it is true, 
continued to furnish the supplies, but from Denmark, 
Hamburgh, Prussia, and even Spain, instead of from Poole, 
and thus coopers, bread-bag makers, millers, labourers, 
and others carrying on trade at Poole for supplying the 
inhabitants of the island, lost their employment. 



MARITIME HISTORY. 399 

The town of St. John's, in Newfoundland, had risen in 
population and wealth, in the prosperity of the trade during 
the war. Merchants of commercial experience and con- 
sequence had settled there : they soon discovered the 
advantages the new laws gave them, and began to import 
largely from the cheapest markets they could find, and 
they have carried on the trade with so much spirit, that 
they have engrossed a large share of it, and, without doubt, 
have drawn away much of the trade of the Poole mer- 
chants, as Well as that of others residing in Great Britain. 
They certainly appear to have advantages in the trade, 
inasmuch as they have the expense of but one establishment, 
whilst the Poole merchants, carrying on trade at the out 
ports, are necessarily subject to two, — the one in England, 
the other in Newfoundland. But not only in St. John's 
are the settled inhabitants importers, but in all the principal 
out ports, there are large planters who import their sup- 
plies and export their produce : and some of the vessels 
employed in the seal fishery, which has greatly increased 
within the last twenty years, serve for this purpose, when 
not employed in the sealing voyages. These numerous 
competitors are sprung up to share that trade which was 
chiefly monopolized by merchants residing in Great Britain, 
and a large part of it by Poole merchants. 

These observations have been directed chiefly to ascer- 
tain the cause of the great decrease of the trade in Poole. 
There are, however, other circumstances which affect the 
Newfoundland trade generally, and that part of it in con- 
nection with Poole, in common with others, which require 
much consideration. One main cause of this reverse is to 
be traced to those portions of the treaties entered into with 
France and America, at the conclusion of the late war, by 
which certain rights of fishery were ceded to the subjects 
of those powers ; in consequence of which they have suc- 
cessfully prosecuted the fisheries on the coast to a very con- 
siderable extent, and under advantages which the British 
fishermen does not enjoy. Of principal importance, too, 



400 MARITIME HISTORY* 

are the high duties imposed on fish in Spain and Portugal ; 
and which do not indicate any reciprocity of that too 
liberal policy which has marked our commercial regula- 
tions with foreign countries. The unfavourable state of 
the exchanges for remitting from Spain, Portugal, and 
Italy, the amount of the proceeds of the fish sold there ; 
the decrease in the consumption of fish from the alteration 
that has taken place in the opinions of the people of those 
countries, on the necessity of the observance of a particular 
diet as a religious duty; the policy of the governments 
thereof, in the encouragement of the use of articles of home 
production, and the employment of their national vessels in 
the importation of fish, by relieving such fish from a part 
of the importation duties ; the growth of the fisheries on the 
Norwegian coasts, and the exportation of the produce to 
the same markets to which the Newfoundland fish is car- 
ried ; the encouragement given by the French government 
to their subjects employed in the fisheries of St. Pierre and 
Miquelon and the coasts of Newfoundland ; and, though 
last, not least, the insecurity of property in the island, 
owing to the wide spreading of popish influence among 
the labouring classes ; all these are to be ranked among 
the combining causes of the depression under which the 
Newfoundland trade labours, particularly in regard to the 
transactions of the merchant residing in Great Britain. 

The principal circumstances to counteract this unfortunate 
state of affairs, are the high prices of oil, caused by the 
failure of the whale fisheries, and the demand for fish 
which appears to increase in the Brazils ; but the continue 
ance of these is very uncertain. 

The number of vessels belonging to Poole, now em- 
ployed in the Newfoundland trade, is 70, with an aggre- 
gate burthen of 7447 tons, and giving occupation to 440 
men. The amount of business carried on is not, probably, 
to more than one-fifth the extent of the transactions of 
the most flourishing time of the trade, about the year 1813* 



MARITIME HISTORY, 



401 



The decline of this branch of commerce has been accom- 
panied by the growth of a more general foreign trade ; 
for which the great extent and convenience of the quays, 
which have, of late years, been greatly augmented and 
improved, the capacity of the warehouses, and the general 
advantages of the port, offer almost unequalled facilities. 
The coasting trade, too, has steadily and rapidly increased. 

The plastic clay which constitutes the distinguishing geo- 
logical feature of this district, now forms a very important 
article of commerce here. The produce of the vast pits of 
this mineral excavated near Corfe Castle, is brought to 
Poole and shipped for the potteries in the north of Eng- 
land; and it is said that one-third of the fine pottery 
manufactured in this kingdom, is the produce of clay 
shipped at Poole for the Staffordshire and other potteries. 

Great quantities of corn are shipped here for the London 
and other markets. 

The chief imports from foreign parts are flour, biscuit, 
salted beef and pork, being for the supply of the shipping 
and colonies ; hides, salt, cider, potatoes, wine, fruit, tim- 
ber, deals, bark, flax, hemp, pitch, tar. Also, fish and oil, 
skins and fur, the produce of the British possessions in 
North America. 

The exports are British manufactures generally ; pitch, 
tar, stone, coal, foreign and colonial produce, salt, ware- 
house goods, tobacco, 

The following statement shows the number of vessels 
which have entered inwards and cleared outwards in the 
last three years with cargoes : — 







INWARDS. 


1 


OUTWARDS 




Years. 


Foreign. 


Coastwise. 


Total. 


Foreign. 


Coastwise. 


Total. 


1834 


98 


670 


768 


105 


891 


996 


1835 


91 


678 


769 


104 


919 


1023 


1836 


1 91 


728 


819 


103 


896 


999 



402 



MARITIME HISTORY. 



The following is a statement of the aggregate tonnage of 
the vessels which have entered inwards and cleared out- 
wards during the same years : — 





INWARDS. 


OUTWARDS. 


Years. 


Foreign. 


Coastwise. 


Total. 


Foreign. 


Coastwise. 


Total. 


1834 
1835 
1836 


9740 
11309 
10558 


43297 
45263 
46308 


53037 
56572 

56866 


8685 
9771 
7196 


55609 
57169 
58149 


64294 
66940 
65345 



The following is a statement, for the last six years, of the 
number of vessels registered belonging to the port; the 
number of men employed in them; the number of vessels 
which have cleared outwards with clay, and the quantity of 
clay so exported :— 



Years. 


Registered 

vessels belonging 

to the port. 


Number 

of men 

employed. 


Numb, of vessels 

laden with clay 

outwards. 


Number of 

tons of clay 

shipped. 


1831 


164 


• • • • 


277 


30,485 


1832 


160 


• • • • 


265 


29,085 


1833 


1.58... . 


• • • • 


241 


25,140 


1834 


161 


1167 


261 


36,000 


1835 


158 


1121 


298 


41,000 


1836 


144 


1008 


314 


44,000 



The aggregate quantity of clay shipped in the first three 
years was 84,610 tons : that of the last three years, 121,000 
tons, shewing an increase of 36,390 tons. 

The following is a statement of the amount of custom 
duties collected in the years mentioned, at intervals of five 
years, since 1815 : — 



Years. 


Amount of duties. 


Years. 


Amount of duties. 


1815 
1820 
1825 


£ s. d. 
11,387 10 0J 
7,321 4 8 

12,868 8 6 


1830 
1835 
1836 


£ s. d. 
12,621 2 

9,655 15 5 
11,898 13 6 



MARITIME HISTORY. 403 

The number of bonded stores registered in the port at 
the close of the year 1837, was 22, viz., 9 vaults, 4 ponds, 
6 yards, and 3 warehouses. 

There are engaged in the pilot service at this port 4 
vessels with 12 men. 

The custom house, which is centrally and conveniently 
situated on the quay, is a commodious and well arranged 
building. It is erected on the site of the old custom house, 
which was burnt down in an extensive fire that broke out 
in an adjoining house in the year 1813, and at which, a 
great quantity of the books and documents were consumed. 

The harbour and the adjoining coasts, are tolerably pro- 
ductive of fish, though the market, which is situate at the 
eastern extremity of the quay, is not so well supplied as it 
ought to be. The fish principally caught, are mackerel, 
herring, whiting, cod, turbot, brill, soles, plaice, skate, 
gray mullett, red mull ett, barce, eels, lobsters, crabs, 
oysters, cockles, muscles, and perriwinkles. 

A great number of men and boys, obtain a livelihood 
by their occupation in the fishery, especially by dredging 
for oysters during the season, the beds of this shell-fish 
forming their chief resource. The oyster fishery has for 
many years constituted a. lucrative field for the exertions of 
the fishermen, and its preservation has been an object of 
great attention to the maritime authorities. The earliest 
beds existed outside the harbour; and it is traditionally 
believed that they were originally formed from oysters 
brought from the channel islands for sale here, but thrown 
overboard at times when the market was overstocked. 

From these beds, termed the ofFground fishery, immense 
quantities have been dredged, not only for the supply of 
the town and neighbourhood, but also for exportation to 
London and other distant places. In the reigns of James I., 
and Charles I., great quantities were pickled, barrelled, 
and sent hence to London, Holland, the West Indies, Spain, 
and Italy. Owing to the excessive drain thus made upon 



404 MARITIME HISTORY. 

the beds, they appear to have diminished about the close 
of the seventeenth century, and new beds were formed 
between the shoal outside the harbour, and the natural 
entrance to it, and orders were frequently made by the 
admiral for the regulation of " the new oyster ground." 
These new beds were also very extensive, and several 
sloops were laden every year with oysters from thence, 
which were carried to creeks in the mouth of the river 
Thames, where they were laid to fatten, to supply the 
London markets. Forty sloops and boats were employed 
in this branch of the fishery, for two months every spring, 
which season was the fishermens' harvest, and during which 
time they were said to receive upwards of £3000. The 
catch of the last day in every season, was, by a prescriptive 
custom, thrown into the channels within the harbour, and 
thus were formed what are now termed the channel 
beds, which at present are the most productive, the 
offground fishery being, indeed, almost extinct. Great 
numbers of oysters are still annually taken ; but it is 
apprehended that the beds will, in a few years dwindle 
almost to a state of exhaustion, the wholesome regula- 
tions that prevailed for upwards of two hundred years, 
for restraining the catch according to the state of the 
beds, having ceased on the abolition of the admiralty 
jurisdiction. These regulations, which issued out of the 
admiralty court, fixed the periods between which no oysters 
should be dredged, limited the number to be taken by each 
boat, and defined other measures for the promotion and 
advantage of the fishery ; these orders, however, were some- 
times evaded, and a contraband dredging was carried on 
between the forbidden periods, for in a brief memoir of 
the celebrated Mr. Henry Hastings, of Horton, of the 
family of the earls of Huntingdon, a man of remarkable 
character, and eccentric habits, we find that, in his parlour, 
M he had his oyster table at the lower end, which was of 
constant use twice a day, all the year rou?id, for he never 



MARITIME HISTORY 



405 



foiled to eat oysters, both dinner and supper time, all sea- 
sons : the neighbouring town of Poole supplied him with 
them."* 

A considerable trade is still carried on in this port, in the 
manufacture of nets and cordage. This manufacture, 
which was introduced here from Bridport in the year 1700, 
by the instrumentality of the corporation, was, during the 
war, carried on to a large extent, and in the height of the 
Newfoundland trade, the fishermen and planters of that 
island were chiefly supplied from hence with their ropes, 
cordage, and tackle. 

Much business is also still done here in the manufacture 
of sail cloth. 



* Hutcliins, ii, 510, 2d. ed. 




BUOWSSE-V. ISLAND AHD CASTLE. 



3 F 



40fc 



€Ijatitie^ 



The endowed charities of Poole are not numerous. 
They were chiefly vested in the old corporation ; and those 
so vested continued under the controul of that body until 
the provisions of the municipal corporation act took effect ; 
by which it was enacted, that the powers of any corporate 
body, seised of any estate or interest in any hereditaments, 
or any personal estate, in trust, or for the benefit of any 
charitable uses or trusts, should continue in the persons 
who, at the time of the passing 1 of the act, were such trus- 
tees, until the 1st of August, 1886; and then, if parliament 
should not otherwise direct, the lord high chancellor should 
make such orders as he should see fit for the administration, 
subject to such charitable uses or trusts, of such trust 
estates. No provision having- been made by parliament at 
the time mentioned in the act, the powers of the members 
of the old corporation ceased, and the lord chancellor 
proceeded to appoint trustees for the administration of the 
several charity estates. The proceedings in chancery were 
contested between the parties, and the consequence of the 
litigation has been, that no distribution of the funds of the 
several corporate charities has been since made amongst 
the persons whose benefit was contemplated by the donors. 
The following- persons were appointed trustees by the 



CHARITIES. 407 

chancellor : — Robert Slacle, (the then mayor,) the rev. 
Peter William Jolliffe, James Slade, Isaac Steele, John 
Turpin, George Holland, Samuel Clark, James Seager, 
John Williamson, Tom Rickman, and Richard Pinney. 

The various charities of Poole were investigated in 1835, 
bv one of the commissioners appointed under the act of 
parliament thereto relating. 

FREE SCHOOL. 

The corporation of this borough were long in possession 
of a building, called The Free School, situate in Thames 
street; but whence it was derived is not known with cer- 
tainty, but, in all probability, it was built for the purpose, 
and given to the corporation in 1628, by Thomas Roberts* 
A stone over the doorway of the building bears this inscrip- 
tion, "June, 1628. J. R. T. R. G. R." Mr. Roberts 
was an opulent merchant of the borough; he was five times 
chosen mayor, and filled that office in the year mentioned. 
At the east end of the north aisle in the old church, was an 
altar tomb, to the memory of Mr. Roberts and his wife. 
By his will, dated June 20, 1633, he gave, amongst other 
legacies, to the parish church of St. James, Poole, £3 ; to 
the poor of Poole, £3 ; to the school of Sturminster Mar- 
shall, 20s. ; to Use poor of that place, 20s. ; to the poor of 
Wimborne Minster, 20s. ; to three poor widows and three 
poor men of Poole, each a black cloth gown, a pair of 
hose and shoes, and 2s. 6d. in money ; to his sister, Mrs. 
Agnes Groves, for her life, the hall and chamber over the 
hall, next to the school house ; to his wife, Jane Roberts, 
his salt house and salt pounds in his garden thereunto 
adjoining, and two lofts over the tenement next to the 
school house, the well house, skillion, and great cellar 
under the school house. The initials, the date, the station 
of Mr. Roberts, the evidence of the possession of all the 
adjoining property, form a combination of circumstances 
sufficiently strong in the absence of positive testimony. 



408 CHARITIES. 

The building 1 was appropriated, until the exchange 
hereafter mentioned, to the purposes of a school, the 
master of which was appointed by the major and alder- 
men, with a salary derived from the next mentioned charity 
of Harbin. The earliest name of a master, now preserved, 
is that of Isaac Taverner, who died 1718; on his decease, 
the rev. Christopher Derby was appointed; and on the 
memorandum of his appointment, the school is stated to be 
endowed with the rents of the land purchased by Mr. 
Harbin's bequest of £200 ; and that the master was also to 
have the further sum of £6 per annum, " being- the legacy 
given by Mr. Trenchard towards the maintaining" of a 
grammar school." In Sept., 1729, Richard Corpe was 
appointed schoolmaster for life, at a salary of £20 per 
annum. John Colborne succeeded him in 1768; and 
John Aldridge, the last master at the old school, was 
appointed Nov. 7, 1788, the same salary of £20 per annum 
being continued. 

In February, 1835, the old school house was exchanged 
for other ground belonging to the corporation, on which a 
new school house has been erected. Towards the expense 
of the building the corporation gave £100, and the national 
school society £150 ; the remainder being raised by private 
subscription. The site was vested in trustees by the 
following conveyance : — 

By indenture of feoffment, enrolled in chancery, bearing 
date 4th March, 1835, the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and 
commonalty of Poole, granted to Robert Slade and eight 
others, and their heirs, a parcel of ground, situated in a 
street called Perry Garden and Leglane, in the town of 
Poole, containing 13,783 superficial feet, bounded as 
therein mentioned, together with a school house lately 
erected thereon, and the appurtenances, upon trust, 
to permit the same to be used as a school or place of 
religious instruction for children of both sexes, of the 
poorer classes, in and near the town of Poole, in the prin- 



CHARITIES. A09 

ciples of the established church, under such rules as should 
from time to time be prescribed, for the government of 
such schools, by the national school society : and it is pro- 
vided that when, from death or otherwise, there should be 
fewer than five acting trustees, the vacancies should be 
supplied by the appointment of so many additional persons 
as would make up not fewer than ten ; such appointment 
to be made by a majority of the subscribers of the said 
institution, being members of the corporation ; and that a 
proper conveyance should be executed for vesting the 
premises in the surviving and new trustees. 

The master of the national school, upon whose appoint- 
ment the mayor and aldermen had the right to exercise a 
veto, receives no endowment except the produce of Har- 
bin's charity, for which he teaches 22 boys gratis. The 
former master, J. Aldridge, stated to the commissioner, 
that he considered 20 boys only to be upon Harbin's 
foundation, and two in respect of the occupation of the 
school room. 

CHARITIES OF HARBIN AND BENNETT. 

Henry Harbin, of London, merchant, on being chosen a 
free burgess of Poole, 1701, in consideration of his admis- 
sion, gave to the use of the corporation, the sum of £10, and 
promised to give £10 more the next year, and, as soon as 
he should attain the age of twenty-one years, to settle upon 
the corporation for ever a yearly rent charge of £10 ; and 
if he should happen to die before that age, to give to the 
corporation, by will, £200, for the purchasing of such rent 
charge. 

By his will, dated July 19, 170-3, this promise of Mr. 
Harbin was fulfilled, as by it he gave to the mayor and 
aldermen of Poole £200, to the intent that they should 
therewith purchase lands of inheritance, in the county of 
Dorset, of the yearly value of £10, and pay the rents and 
profits thereof, yearly, to some person, by them from time 



410 CHARITIES. 

to time to be appointed, for his pains in instructing" and 
teaching poor children of Poole to read the English tongue. 
And in case it should happen that the said sum of £200 
should not be sufficient to purchase the inheritance of the 
said clear yearly sum of £10, then that the said sum of 
£200, should be put forth at interest, by and in the names 
of the mayor and aldermen, until the moneys arising 
thereby, being added to the said principal sum of £200, 
should be sufficient to purchase lands of such value as 
aforesaid, and that the same should be then laid out 
accordingly. 

The will of Harbin was proved by Elizabeth Harbin, 
his mother, October 7, 1703. 

John Bennett^ by will (the date of which does not 
appear), bequeathed to the mayor, aldermen, and bur- 
gesses of the town of Poole (where he was born), the sum 
of £300, in trust, to be by them laid out in such manner as 
they in their discretion should judge most proper and 
beneficial for the poor of the same town ; the interest and 
proceeds thereof to be at Christmas annually for ever paid 
and distributed, by the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of 
the town for the time being, to and amongst the poor 
people of the town, in such manner and proportions as 
they, in their discretion, should judge most proper. 

By indenture of lease and release, bearing date June 19 
and 20, 1718, reciting the wills above mentioned, John 
Chapman, in consideration of the sum of £500, (£200 
whereof was the legacy of the said Henry Harbin, and 
£300 was the legacy of the said John Bennett,) conveyed 
to sir William Lewen, George Trenchard, and five others, 
and their heirs, a close of meadow called East Hills, con- 
taining nine acres, a close called Peaked, containing seven 
acres and a half, all situate at East Linch, in the parish of 
Corfe Castle, adjoining each other, in trust, to pay the net 
profits thereof to the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and com- 
monalty of Poole, two-fifth parts thereof to be by them 



CHARITIES. 411 

applied to the charitable uses expressed in the will of the 
said Henry Harbin, and the remaining three-fifths to the 
uses expressed in the will of the said John Bennett, with a 
proviso that, when the trustees should be reduced to three 
or fewer, the survivors, with the consent of the corporation, 
should convey the trust premises to four other able and 
discreet men, upon the same trusts. 

There does not appear to have been any subsequent 
conveyance to trustees, and the property was treated as 
vested in the corporation. 

The land still lies in two fields, each described as con- 
taining* nine acres, demised by the corporation to James 
Spincer, for seven years, from lady-day, 1833, at the clear 
rent of £41 per annum. Of the rent, £16 8s. being two- 
fifths, is paid to the master of the national school, and the 
remainder, £24 12s., was, down to the dissolution of the 
old corporation, annually distributed amongst the poor of 
the parish. This distribution took place by means of 
tickets, of which each burgess had the privilege of giving 
one, and which were presented to the mayor, at the town 
hall, on Christmas eve, when they were exchanged for 
money. The new trustees have yet made no arrangements 
for the distribution of the fund. 

In respect of the two-fifths paid to the school master, 
22 boys are nominated to the national school, who are 
taught entirely free. When a vacancy occurred, the 
master gave notice to the mayor, by whom it was forth- 
with filled up. The nominations at present rest with the 
trustees. 

The report of the charity commissioner adds, " from the 
year 1767 to the year 1795, £6 per annum, out of the rents 
of this property, was paid to a schoolmistress. From 1795 
to 1807, inclusive, £10 per annum was paid to John 
Aldridge, the schoolmaster. In 1808, the rent was raised 
to £37 10s., and the payment to the master to £15. Some 
irregularity occurred in the payment of his salary for several 



412 CHARITIES. 

years of his holding the situation, but it does not appear 
that he sustained on the whole any pecuniary loss, and on 
his retiring* from the office (in consequence of an affection 
of the sight) in 1835, an arrangement was considerately 
made by the corporation to allow him a stipend of £10 
per annum for life from their own funds." 



In reference to this charity, the commissioner's report 
contains the following passage : — " Nothing could be 
learned of a gift of money, by George Trenchard, to the 
grammar school, which is recorded in the parliamentary 
returns of 1786, as yielding £6 per annum. The oldest 
members of the corporation distinctly stated, that the books 
of that body had been carefully searched for the purpose, 
but afforded no trace of the fund having ever come into 
their hands." 

SUNDAY SCHOOL. 

The Sundav school now existing in connection with the 
parish church of Saint James, was founded and endowed 
by the late William Morton Pitt, esq. [p. 285], who was 
one of the earliest and most efficient promoters of this class 
of educational establishments. 

By indenture, dated March 19, 1792, reciting that 
William Morton Pitt, esq., being desirous of establishing 
a Sunday school, in Poole, had transferred the sum of 
£173 6s. 8d., three per cent, consols, into the names of 
himself, and George Pitt, and George James Cholmon- 
deley, it was declared that the said sum was so transferred 
to them upon trust to apply the annual dividends for pro- 
moting and supporting a Sunday school, within the town 
of Poole, for teaching the children of mariners, labourers, 
and other poor persons, to spell and read, of whatsoever 
religious sect or persuasion the parents of such children 
should be, in such manner and subject to such rules as the 



CHARITIES. 413 

said William Morton Pitt should lay down for the man- 
agement of the said school during his life, and, after his 
death, according to the rules mentioned in the schedule 
thereunto annexed; and it was provided that, in case the 
said Sunday school should be discontinued, or the master 
or mistress thereof should not have more than twelve chil- 
dren upon an average in one year, it should be lawful for 
the trustees to apply the dividends to any charity or chari- 
ties in the town of Poole or elsewhere, in such manner as 
the said William Morton Pitt, or his heir at law, should 
direct. And it was agreed that, after the death of the said 
William Morton Pitt, his heir at law should be appointed 
a trustee, and that upon the death of either of the other 
trustees, the survivors should appoint another, and transfer 
the stock into their own names, jointly with such new 
trustee, upon the trusts aforesaid. 

By the schedule annexed to the deed, it is directed, — 

1. That the trustees shall apply the dividends to support 
a Sunday school or schools in Poole, and to teach and 
instruct therein children of poor persons of all religious 
persuasions, who cannot afford to pay for their education, 
to spell and read only. 

2. The trustees shall permit other persons to subscribe 
towards such charity, and shall pay a sufficient portion of 
the dividends in salary to a master or mistress for teaching 
the children. 

3. A schoolmaster or mistress for each school to be 
appointed, for ever, by Mr. Pitt, or his heir at law, during 
pleasure; such master or mistress not to receive any 
gratuity from the parents of the children under their care, 
nor from any other person, for instructing such children. 

4. Mr. Pitt and his heir at law, the trustees for the time 
being, and the mayor and aldermen of the town of Poole, 
to be visitors in the school or schools, to hold quarterly 
meetings, at which they are to elect the children, examine into 
regulations, and attend to other matters of superintendence, 

3 G 



414 CHARITIES. 

5. The visitors and subscribers to have power to remove 
or suspend the master or mistress on gross behaviour ; or 
to expel the children. 

6. Books to be kept for the registering* of the children. 

7. A return of the number of children, &c, to be made 
quarterly to the mayor. 

8. The visitors and subscribers to have power to dis- 
charge the master or mistress for neglect. 

By indenture, bearing date August 25, 1831, reciting- 
the indenture above abstracted, and that the said George 
Pitt and George James Cholmondeley were both dead, 
and that Horace George Cholmondeley and Henry Ker 
Seymer had been chosen in their stead, into whose names, 
jointly with that of the said William Morton Pitt, the said 
sum of £173 6s. 8d., three per cent, consols, had been 
transferred, it was declared that the said stock was so 
transferred to them upon the trusts of the above recited 
indenture. 

The above is the only endowment of the Poole Sunday 
school. The dividends, amounting to £5 4s. per annum, 
are carried to the general account, and the remainder of 
the funds necessary to support the school, is supplied by 
voluntary subscriptions, and collections at the church. 

The average annual expenditure is about £50 a year. 

The sum of £300 was paid in the year 1821, for the 
perpetual right to the use of two rooms, one adjoining the 
new church of St. James, and one in the tower thereof, for 
the purposes of the school. Of these rooms, one is appro- 
priated to the boys, and the other to the girls. 

At Michaelmas, 1837, there were 114 boys and 95 girls 
in the school, of whom had been admitted during the year 
preceding, 32 boys and 24 girls. 37 boys and 14 girls 
had left school during the same interval. The total num- 
ber of children admitted to the school since its establish- 
ment in 1789, was 3245. 



CHARITIES. 415 

THE OLD ALMS HOUSES. 

The alms-row, situate in Church street, and known as 
" the old alms houses," appear to have anciently formed 
part of the possessions of the fraternity of St. George, and 
to have been devoted to the charitable purposes of that 
society, and, on the dissolution of that body, to have been 
purchased of the crown, together with its other property, 
on behalf of the corporation. They are of great antiquity, 
being mentioned so early as 1429; and they were, in all 
probability, built for the charitable use to which they have 
been applied, from a period antecedent to any existing re- 
cord in which they are mentioned. These buildings were not 
expressly mentioned in the conveyances of the other pos- 
sessions of the fraternity [p. 335-6] ; but after the convey- 
ance by Thomas White and Christopher Haviland to the 
corporation, in 1586, viz., Sept. 30, 1604, by deed of 
feoffment, Thomas White, son to the above Thomas, renews 
the grant of all the premises, with the addition of " one 
messuage in Poole, commonly called the almes house, 
with his appurtenances, and one little house and garden 
adjoining' to the said almes house, on the east side of the 
said almes house," to Thomas Frauncis, then mayor, and 
several burgesses therein named, in trust for the mayor, 
bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty. 

By deed of feoffment, dated May 4, 1636, Thomas 
Frauncis, the sole surviving feoffee in trust, grants all the 
premises to Shadrach Gibbon, mayor, and several bur- 
gesses therein named, also in trust. 

No further conveyance appears to have been executed, 
and the property continued subject to the government of 
the corporation, by whom the buildings, still used as alms 
houses, have been constantly kept in repair. 

Under the Poole and Canford enclosure act, an allot- 
ment of three perches of land near the turnstile, at the 
north-west entrance into Poole, was made to the corpora- 
tion in respect of these alms houses. Similar allotments 



4l() 



CHARITIES. 



trere made to that body in respect of Rogers's alms houses, 
and four other properties, belonging* to them in their own 
right. The whole of these allotments form one parcel of 
18 perches, which has been let to J. G. Godwin, for 99 
years, renewable for ever, at a rent of £2 per annum. The 
rent reserved under the lease to Godwin is carried into the 
general account of the corporation, but the repairs done to 
the alms houses much exceed the proportion of the rent 
now paid, or that could reasonably be anticipated, had this 
lease not been granted. 

The poor alms people, down to the operation of the late 
corporation act, were selected by the mayor for the time 
being-, and considered removable at his pleasure. They 
received a portion of the donation of coals at Christmas 
from Jolliffe's charity, hereafter mentioned, and occa- 
sionally received tickets to Bennett's charity; but they 
have no regular stipend as being* on this foundation. 

ROGERS'S ALMS HOUSES. 

The alms houses, in west street, were founded by 
Robert Rogers, leather seller, of London, who was a native 
of Poole, and a man of eminent piety and benevolence. 
His will, dated Sept. 11, 1601, contains, amongst many 
other charitable bequests, the following**? : — 



* The will of Mr, Rogers is a remarkable document, both in regard to the state of 
the testator's mind, and the numerous charitable bequests made in it. These bequests 
are as follows :— 

£ s. d. 

To the prisons in and about London, 12 

To the poor of two several towns in the west country, 13 6 8 

To the poor of the town of Poole, 10 

For building alms houses there, 333 6 8 

For relief of poor prisoners, such as were neither atheists nor papists, 

and might be delivered each man at the sum of 20 nobles, 150 

To poor preachers, » . ....... 100 

To poor artificers, being charged with wife and children, and of 

honest reputation 100 

To the company of merchant adventurers, for poor decayed people, 

and towards the support of young freemen, , 400 

To Christ's hospital, to purchase lands for the relief of the house. . . . 500 
For the erecting of alms houses near London, also to the maintenance 

of twelve poor people, , 600 



CHARITIES. 417 

" Item : I give to the town of Poole, in Dorsetshire, 
where I was born, 500 marks, to build an alms house, and 
to place therein six poor couple, householders, married or 
unmarried, of the most aged or decayed, by sea, if any 
such be, or to such others as shall have most need of 
relief; and the governors of the town to purchase so much 
land as shall amount to £15 12s. yearly, with the said 
money, and to allow to each couple twelve pence per 
week, during their natural lives, and, after their decease, 
to place others in the same houses, with the like allowance ; 
and if the said 500 marks shall not be sufficient, then, at 
the discretion of my executors, to be augmented as to them 
shall seem needful. " The testator further bequeathed to 
the poor of the town of Poole £10, to be paid within one 
month after his decease. 

June 15, 1604, a discharge was given by the corpora- 
tion to the executors, whereby the corporation acknow- 
ledged the receipt of the 500 marks (£333 6s. Sd.), and 
of the further sum of fifty marks (£33 6s. 8d.), paid by 
the executors under the power given by the will, and they 
covenanted, that with the said sums they would not only 
build the alms houses, but would also purchase as much 
land as should amount to £15 12s. per annum, to be 
applied according to the directions of the will. 

£ s. <L 

To the parish where he dwelt, 10 

To the same for two dozen of bread, to be given every Sunday for 

ever to the poor,.... > 100 

To the parish of Christchurch, „ 15 

To— — —Newgate, 26 13 4 

To Cripplegate, 26 13 4 

To- Bishopsgate, 26 13 4 

To St. George, Southwark, 26 13 4 

To St. Sepulchre, 30 

To St. Olave, Southwark, 30 

To St. Giles, without Cripplegate, 30 

To St. Leonard, Shoreditch, 30 

To St. George, Southwark, 30 

To Bishopsgate, 20 

To St. Botolph, without Aldgate, 20 

For maintaining four poor scholars, two in Oxford, and two in 

Cambridge, students in divinity, 400 

Total £3040 6 8 



418 CHARITIES. 

It appears from the accounts preserved amongst the 

documents relating to this charity, and particularly by a 

general statement under the date of March 25, 1605, that 

there was paid £ s. d. 

For land to build the alms house upon .... 10 

Expended on the building 148 16 4 

Remainder in the hands of the corporation, 207 17 

£366 13 4 



A subsequent augmentation was made to the fund 
remaining in the hands of the corporation, which, in 1610, 
amounted to £292. 

With this money a rent charge appears to have been 
purchased before 1614, payable out of certain lands at 
Merley, the property of Mr. Constantine. But this invest- 
ment seems to have been afterwards cancelled. For, by 
indenture, dated May 1, 1649, Abraham Strode, in con- 
sideration of £300, conveyed to Henry Harding, then 
mayor, and several others, aldermen and merchants of 
Poole, and their heirs, a messuage and certain lands and 
tenements in the parishes of Hampreston, West Parley, 
and Cranborne. 

And, by indenture, dated June 24, in the same year, the 
said Henry Harding and others, reconveyed the said pre- 
mises to Abraham Strode and his heirs, in consideration of 
the yearly rent or sum of £18 for ever, payable half yearly 
in the great porch of the church at Poole, with a power of 
distress and entry in case of non-payment. 

No trusts are declared by the preceding deeds. 

July 26, 1660, an undertaking was given by William 
Constantine, esq., to charge his own lands at Merley, with 
this annuity of £18, in case there should be any failure in 
the title to Mr. Strode's land. 

This rent charge of £18 was conveyed to new trustees 
by indentures of October 8 and 9, 1690, by Moses Durell, 



CHARITIES. 419 

in whom the same had become vested as the only survivor 
of those named in the preceding* deed of June 24, 1649 ; 
but there does not appear to have been any subsequent 
conveyance. 

The annuity is now regularly received by the corpora- 
tion from Edward Greathead, esq., of Uddens, the owner 
of the property charged, and which is known as Hillam's 
lands. 

The allotment to the corporation, under the Great 
Canford and Poole enclosure act, comprehends three 
perches of land, set out in respect of these alms houses, 
which are included in the lease of John G. Godwin, men- 
tioned in the account of the preceding* charity. 

The alms houses consist of twelve tenements, of one 
room each, occupied by twelve women, who have hitherto 
been appointed by the mayor. Each of the alms people 
receives sixpence a week, amounting* to £15 12s. per 
annum ; and a distribution of coals has been made to them 
out of the funds every Christmas, which has more than 
exhausted the residue of the £18. The buildings were 
kept in repair at the expense of the corporation. 

The commissioner of inquiry thus concludes his report 
on this charity : — " No balance has been actually struck 
between the corporation and the charity since the year 
1741 ; but the receipts and payments are regularly entered 
in the general account book of the corporation, from an 
examination of which it appeared that, independently of 
the repairs, and after giving credit to the charity for its 
proportion of the rent for the allotment, the corporation 
have paid annually more than the amount of the endow- 
ment." 

garland's alms houses. 

A range of alms houses, comprising twelve tenements, 
situate at Hungerhill, were built and endowed by the late 
George Garland, esq. 



420 CHARITIES. 

By indenture of bargain and sale, enrolled in chancerv, 
dated April 12, 1814, George Garland, of Poole, esq., 
granted to the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty 
of the town and county of the town, and their successors, 
12 tenements, each consisting of a sitting room and a bed 
room, and numbered respectively from 1 to 12 inclusive, 
lately erected by him, adjoining each other, situate at 
Hungerhill, in Poole aforesaid, and occupied by the several 
parties therein named, and the appurtenances, (except 
rights of common, and allotments in lieu thereof,) upon 
trust, to permit the then occupiers of the said tenements to 
reside therein during their lives, free of rent, subject to the 
power of amoval thereinafter mentioned ; and, upon their 
death or amoval, to place therein some other person or 
persons, to be nominated by the said mayor, bailiffs, bur- 
gesses, and commonalty, within eight days after such death 
or amoval, out of the poor people residing in and belong- 
ing to the parish of St. James, in Poole aforesaid ; such 
person or persons to be a widow or widower, or a man 
and his wife, having no child residing with them, and to 
be permitted to occupy the same, rent free, during their 
lives, subject to the power of amoval thereinafter men- 
tioned : provided that, if a man and his wife should be the 
occupiers of any such tenements, and one of them should 
die, the survivor should remain therein, subject as afore- 
said, during life, if he or she continued unmarried. And 
the said mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty were 
empowered to amove any of the said alms people, in case 
of their committing any waste or injury to the said tene- 
ments and premises, or keeping a disorderly house, or 
committing any other nuisance or disturbance, interrupting 
the comfort of any of the occupiers of the other tenements, or 
of the neighbourhood. And it is thereby further witnessed, 
that the said George Garland had paid to the said mayor, 
bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty, the sum of £200, upon 
trust, in the first instance, to invest the same on government 



CHARITIES. 421 

or real security, and, as soon as convenient opportunity 
offered, to lay out the same in the purchase of freehold 
lands of inheritance in the county of Dorset, to be conveyed 
to the said mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty, 
upon trust, to apply the interest of the said sum of £200 
previous to such purchase, and the rents of the lands when 
purchased, in keeping the said tenements in tenantable 
repair on the then plan and form of building, and to 
divide the surplus equally between the occupiers of the 
said tenements, on Christmas eve annually, the share of a 
man and his wife to be the same as that of a widow or 
widower, viz., one~twelfth part of such surplus : provided 
that, in case of the destruction or of material damage to 
the said tenements by fire or otherwise, or of their becoming 
ruinous from decay, then the said mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, 
and commonalty should be at liberty to apply the whole 
of the said interest or rents for rebuilding or repairing the 
same, and also to keep the buildings insured from fire out 
of the said interest or rents. And it was provided that a 
distinct book of accounts should be kept, which accounts 
should be audited annually, by the auditors of the general 
accounts of the corporation, and signed by them. 

And, by another deed of bargain and sale, enrolled in 
chancery, dated August 1, 1822, the said George Garland 
conveyed to the corporation a messuage or tenement, and 
workshop, yard, and outhouses, in Market street, bounded 
as therein mentioned, in the occupation of Joseph Swaffield, 
and a messuage, tenement, workshop, and outbuildings, 
also situate in Market street, in the occupation of Joseph 
Lance, (but excepting the allotments in respect thereof, 
under the Canford and Poole enclosure act,) upon trust to 
apply one-third part of the rents and profits of the said 
messuages and premises to keeping the same and also the 
said alms houses in good repair ; and to place the surplus 
of such one-third part out at interest on government or 
real security, or their own security, and suffer it to 

3 H 



422 CHARITIES. 

accumulate for the purpose of forming' a fund for better 
providing for such repairs ; and at the end of every ten 
years to pay a reasonable part, not less than one-half of 
such accumulations, to the occupiers of such alms houses, 
by twelve equal payments, on the days when the monthly 
payments are directed to be made to them ; and as to the 
other two-thirds upon trust, to divide the same equally 
between the occupiers of the said alms houses, on the first 
Monday of every calendar month; the share of a man 
and his wife to be one-twelfth part thereof: with similar 
provisions in case of the destruction or material damage 
to the said alms houses, and for insurance, and for keeping 
a separate book of accounts, as in the previously recited 
deed. 

These premises produce a rental of £26 per annum ; and 
the dividends arising from the £200 which have been 
invested in the new three and a half per cents, amount to 
£7 19s. 4d. 

Out of the income, amounting in the whole to £33 
19s. 4d., there is paid annually for insurance of the alms 
houses, £1 2s. 6d. ; and the twelve inhabitants have 
received 2s. 6d. each monthly, (being £18 per annum,) 
and £9 at Christmas, amounting in the whole to £28 2s. 6d. 
per annum. The payments for repairs at the alms houses 
and the other buildings have amounted, since 1822, to 
£56 13s. Id., besides a sum of £4 2s. 9d. for damage 
done by fire, and afterwards received from the insurance 
office. 

jolliffe's charity. 

Christopher Jollife, by will, dated March 6, 1809, 
gave to the mayor of Poole and his successors, £100 in 
trust, to invest the same in the three per cent, consolidated 
bank annuities, and to stand possessed thereof in trust to 
apply the dividends annually in the purchase of coals, to 
be divided every Christmas equally among all the poor 



CHARITIES* 423 

persons inhabiting the twelve apartments called the 
Gifting-houses, in Poole aforesaid, and also the poor per- 
sons inhabiting the alms houses, in Market street, nearly 
opposite Levet's lane, in Poole aforesaid. 

This legacy was invested in the purchase of £150, three 
per cent, consols, in the names of Benjamin Lester Lester, 
John Foot, junior, James Seager, junior, and John Strong, 
in whose names it still stands. 

The dividends (£4 10s.) were paid to the mayor 9 § who 
expended the amount in coals, which were distributed in 
small quantities between the inmates of the Church street 
and Rogers's alms houses. 

benjamin lester's endowment. 

In the year 1799, Benjamin Lester, esq., gave to the 
parish an organ for the use of the church ; and, at his 
death, in 1804, he bequeathed £400 to the corporation, in 
trust that they should pay to the organist of Poole church, 
£20 per annum, as an endowment for ever : and it was 
directed, that the election of the organist should be vested 
in the corporation. This sum of £400 was paid to the 
corporation Dec. 5, 1804, and carried to their general 
account; out of which they regularly paid £20 to the 
organist of the parish church by quarterly payments, till 
the close of the year 1835, when a shipwright's yard and a 
clay cellar beloging to the corporation were conveyed to 
trustees to secure the payment of the £20 to the organist. 

The present organist was not named by the corporation, 
but was appointed in the usual manner by the vestry. 

sir john lester's endowment. 
Sir John Lester , knt., by will, dated Dec. 25, 1804, 
gave to the mayor, bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty of 
Poole, £2566 13s. 4d., three per cent, consols, to be pur- 
chased by his executors out of his personal estate, free of 
legacy duty, and transferred into the names of the said 



424 CHARITIES. 

mayor, &c, upon trust, out of the dividends to pay to the 
minister of the parish church of Poole* for the time being-, 
the clear yearly sum of £52, by half yearly payments, in 
January and July, upon condition that the said minister 
should read the evening service and 'preach a lecture in 
the parish church of St. James, between the hours of six 
and nine in the evening of every Sunday throughout the 
year; 20s* to be forfeited for every neglect of such duty: 
and to pay the clerk of the parish for attending the said 
service £10, with a discretionary power to the mayor, &c, 
to deduct 3s. 6d. for every neglect of duty : to the 
organist £10, subject to the like penalty for neglect : and 
to the sexton £5, subject to the penalty of Is. 9d. for 
neglect? such several forfeitures to be paid to the church* 
wardens, towards the expense of lighting the church for 
such evening service* 

This sum of £2566 13s. 4d., three per cent, consols, 
was transferred into, and still stands in, the names of 
Benjamin Lester Lester, James Seager, John Strong, and 
John Foot* 

The dividends, amounting to £77, are disposed of in 
accordance with the directions of the testator* 

The evening service is regularly performed and the 
lecture preached, the respective officers attending as 
required by the endowment* 

*** All the foregoing endowments, having been vested in 
the old corporation, are at present under the manage- 
ment of the provisional trustees appointed by the lord 
chancellor, under the powers given in the corporation 
act. The trustees have yet made no permanent 
arrangements for the government of the endowments. 

fawconer's charity. 

Martha Faivconer, by her will, without date, but pro- 
ved in the prerogative court, June 1, 1818, gave to her 
executors, George Garland, Christopher Spurrier, and 



CHARITIES* 425 

Peter Jolliffe, £200, in three per cent* annuities, the inter- 
est thereof to be laid out in sixpenny loaves, and given to 
poor old women, at the church door in Poole, under the 
direction of her executors, and the minister and church- 
wardens of Poole, every Easter Monday for ever, and if 
they should omit so doing- for two years, the said £200 to 
be claimed by, and divided between, her nearest relations, 
or any one of them* 

In respect of this legacy, there is now the sum of £176, 
three per cent reduced annuities, standing in the names of 
George Garland, Christopher Spurrier, and Peter Jolliffe; 
£24 of the stock bequeathed having been sold for payment 
of legacy duty and expenses* Out of the dividends* 
(amounting to £5 5s. 6d. per annum,) Is. 6d. is retained 
for expenses, and the remainder, £5 4s., is laid out in the 
purchase of sixpenny loaves, which are brought to the 
vestry on Easter Monday, and distributed by the minister 
and churchwardens to poor aged persons of the parish, 
among whom a preference is given to widows. 

SWETLANft's CHARITY* 

Ann Sivetland, by will, dated Sept. 13, 1822, and 
proved in the prerogative court, gave to the churchwardens 
of the parish of St. James, in Poole, £200, three per cent, 
consols, upon trust to apply the dividends thereof in the 
purchase of bread, to be distributed in the month of 
January yearly, under the direction of the minister and 
churchwardens of the said parish., among the poor thereof. 

From this bequest, £20 7s. 6d. stock was sold for pay- 
ment of legacy duty and expenses. The remainder, 
£179 12s. 6d*, stands in the names of John Sydenham and 
John Turpin, who were churchwardens at the time of the 
testatrix's death* 

The dividends, amounting to £5 7s. 8d., are laid out 
by the churchwardens, in the month of January, in 
quartern loaves, which are given amongst poor persons of 



426 CHARITIES. 

the town, at the discretion of the minister and churchwar- 
dens, who attend at the vestry for that purpose. 

The foregoing constitute the endowed charities of the town. 
There are, in addition, several other benevolent institutions 
that have been established, dependent on the sums annually 
contributed for their support. The principal of these are 
the Sick and Aged Society, and the District Visiting 
Society. 

The Society for the Relief of the Sick and Aged was 
founded in Poole, August 4, 1815. The object of this 
society is to devote the funds of the institution to the relief 
of the indigent sick and aged poor, of every denomination 
of religion. It is maintained by subscription, and by 
the contributions of the beneficial members, who are 
required to contribute four pence per month, by which 
they become entitled to the benefits of the fund, which is 
devoted to their relief in times of emergency. The busi- 
ness of the society is conducted by a president, a treasurer 
and secretary, and a proper number of visitors, whose 
business is to visit the afflicted, and seek for proper objects 
of relief. 

The District Visiting Society was founded in 1832, 
in connection with the established church. Its object is to 
provide for visiting the families of the poor as often as 
time and other circumstances may render expedient, with 
the view of promoting their temporal and spiritual 
improvement. 

There are also in the town the customary associations in 
connection with the many institutions founded in the 
kingdom, for promoting Christianity at home and abroad. 

Depositaries have likewise been formed here for the 
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and for the 
Tract Society. 



427 



% 

public 25uiMng^ 



The public buildings of Poole, exclusive of the churches 
and dissenting" places of worship, which have been already 
described, are not verv numerous. The following are the 
principal : — 

THE GUILDHALL 

stands in the market place. It is a spacious and convenient 
structure, comprising a council chamber, a large hall of 
justice, retiring rooms for the jury, &c. ; having on the 
ground story a series of open arcades, occupied on market 
days by the butchers. The entrance to the hall is by a 
double flight of steps, leading to a portico beneath a pedi- 
ment, at the west end of the building. This edifice was 
erected in 1761, at an expense of £1500, presented to the 
corporation for that purpose, in equal proportions, by 
Joseph Gulston, and Thomas Calcraft, esqrs,, then chosen 
representatives of the borough. In the justice room, over 
the fireplace, is an emblazonment of the armorial bearings 
of the borough ; and on the opposite side of the room 
is a fine half length portrait of Mr. Gulston. In the 
great hall are suspended two large glass chandeliers, 
presented by William Morton Pitt, esq., who also gave 
the pair of splendid maces borne before the mayor on 



428 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

occasions of state. The judicial business of the borough, 
at the quarter sessions and other courts, is transacted in 
this hall, and the public meetings of the town are generally 
holden here. 

The old guildhall, used before the erection of the 
present building, stood in Fish street, 

THE GAOL 

is situated in King street. It consists of six sleeping 
rooms, and one day room appropriated to debtors, There 
is a house of correction attached to the gaol, consisting of 
a single room ; and there is also a treadmill. Prior to 
the extension of the municipal boundary, the gaol was of 
good size, compared with the extent of the local jurisdic«« 
tion; but, since the addition of the out parishes, considerable 
inconvenience has been suffered from the relative smallness 
of the accommodation, and an enlargement or rebuilding 
of the gaol is contemplated, There is a spacious yard 
within the outer walls, 

The sheriff" has the charge of the gaol ; but the gaoler 
has hitherto been appointed by the justices in session, He 
is paid a salary of £30 a year out of the borough rate, and 
receives also 40s. a year as keeper of the house of correc-* 
tion. The gaol was erected about 40 years since s and is 
kept in repair out of the borough rate, 

A curious entry in the corporation books, under date of 
1001, and which is subjoined, leads to a melancholy 
inference as to the uncertainty that must at that time have 
prevailed in regard to the provision for the maintenance of 
those who were so unfortunate as to be confined in our 
prisons, 

" M d - it is ordeyned condiscended and agreed this 
xviij th daie of September anno d'ni 1601 by Mr. WiU'm 
Bramble mayor of this towne and countie of Poole Mr, 
Richard Swayne recorder of the same towne and by his 
brethren and assistaunce that from henceforthe the 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 429 

inhibytants of this towne whose names are heere under 
written eu'ie one of them accordinge to ther dwellings 
shall bestowe one after another daie by daie as they shalbe 
appointed one meales meate towards the releife of the 
prison' now in the gaiole duringe such tyme as he shall 
remayne ther And that the sherife shall appointe one 
honest poor bodie dulie to gather the same of those p'sons 
by ther howses orderlie as he shalbe appointed And if 
anie p'son or p'sons refuse to releeife the said prison' as 
they shalbe appointed thervnto by the mayor and the most 
p'te of his brethren that be of the councel of the towne 
then he or they to forfett for eu'ie such refusal! the some 
of vj s viij d And if anie more prison's heer.ifter shalbe 
comytted to the comon gaiole of this said towne which 
prison's are not of abilitie to releefe themselues then eu'ie 
of the said p'sons whose names are heere subscribed and 
suche others as the mayor of this towne for the tyme being 
and the comon councell of the same or the greatest p'te of 
them shall lymitt and appointe shall releive such prison's 
as heereafter shalbe comytted accordinge to suche order 
and direction as the said mayor and comon counsell or the 
greatest p'te of them shall directe and appointe vppon the 
like peyne of forfeyture of vj s viij d ." 

Then follows a list of the names of those who are to 
furnish the meals, specifying the day and the meal ; as 

" Mr. WilPm Bramble mayor Sonndaie at dynn' the 
xx th of September 1601. 

" Mr. Mawdley the same daie at supp'." &c. 

A small prison for temporary confinement adjoins the 
town cellars, near the quay. It is called " the Salisbury 5 " 
and is supposed to have derived that name from the build- 
ing that formerly stood on the same site, having been 
erected, as a place of imprisonment, by one of the Lon- 
gespees or Montacutes, earls of Sarum ; and this opinion 
of its antiquity was well confirmed by the appearance of 
the old structure, which was taken down about eighteen 
years since. 



3 I 



430 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

POLICE OFFICE. 

The police of the town, both daily and nightly, is very 
well conducted. It was formerly managed, conjointly 
with the lighting, by the commissioners appointed under 
the provisions of the local act of the 29th Geo. II. ; but, by 
the corporation act of the 5th and 6th Wm. IV., c. 76, the 
police of the borough was made subject to its provisions, 
and brought under the regulation of the town council. 
There are now six daily, and six nightly police ; with a day 
superintendent, and a night superintendent. Since this 
alteration in the system, a private house in hill street has 
been converted into a police office, in which the minor 
business connected with that establishment is conducted. 

GAS WORKS. 

The town of Poole has been lighted with gas for the last 
four years. The lighting is governed by the commissioners 
under the local act just mentioned. This act provides that 
the mayor and justices of the peace of the town and county 
of Poole, for the time being, and eleven of the principal 
inhabitants of the town, to be chosen annuallv on Easter 
Tuesday, by the inhabitants in vestry assembled, shall be 
commissioners for the purposes of the act, in regard to 
lighting the streets of the town, &c, to which end the 
commissioners are vested with power to appoint assessors 
to make an annual rate or assessment on the inhabitants, 
which is termed the lamp rate. 

Down to the year 1833, the streets of Poole were 
lighted with oil ; but in that year a gas company was 
founded, and the commissioners have since contracted for 
a due supply of gas. The works have been erected on a 
convenient site, on the south-eastern side of the town. 
The company is formed by shareholders, there being 400 
shares, at £10 each. The affairs of the company are pro- 
ceeding very favourably, as nearly all the shops and inns, 
and many of the private houses in the town are supplied 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 431 

by the company. All the capital was required for the 
erection of the works and the completion of the establish- 
ment ; but the returns have since been so abundant, as not 
only to provide for an annual dividend of 5 per cent, to 
the shareholders, but to have enabled the directors to 
contemplate a reduction in the price of gas supplied to the 
private consumers. 

The number of public lamps is 168, of which 134 are 
paid for from the proceeds of the lamp rate, and 34 for 
lighting* the quays are provided out of the quay dues. 
A lamp rate of 6d. in the pound per annum, is sufficient to 
provide the necessary funds. 

THE LIBRARY. 

The Town and County of Poole Library is situated at 
the lower extremity of the High street, near the quay. 
This institution was founded in the year ] 830, when the 
site, on which the building has been erected, was presented 
by Benjamin Lester Lester, esq., and the costs of the 
erection were defrayed by the hon. W. F. S. Ponsonby, 
those gentlemen being then the representatives of the 
borough. The room containing the library is lofty, 
sufficiently large, and well adapted to the purpose. The 
institution is supported by donations and annual subscript 
tions. The property is declared to be in those who have 
made donations of ten pounds or upwards, they also becom- 
ing annual subscribers : donors of five pounds also become 
proprietors when their annual subscriptions, added to their 
donations, shall amount to ten pounds ; and annual sub- 
scribers become proprietors when the aggregate amount of 
their subscriptions shall amount to fifteen pounds : but no 
proprietor is to continue entitled to a share in the property 
after the discontinuance of his annual subscription. The 
property, of every description, is vested in trustees, who 
stand possessed of the same on certain trusts declared in 
the deed. The trustees, with a committee of nine sub- 



432 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

scribers, annually chosen by ballot, have power to make 
laws and regulations for the management of the institution. 
A treasurer and a secretary are appointed by the trustees, 
and chosen out of the proprietors. The annual subscrip- 
tion to the library is one guinea : and the subscribers are 
admitted by ballot. The number of subscribers is not so 
great as might have been anticipated from the extent of 
the population of the town and its neighbourhood. The 
number of books now belonging to the institution does not 
exceed 1700, and, from the circumstance just mentioned, 
additions are not made to any considerable extent. 

Strangers are admitted to the reading room on the 
introduction of a member. 

The front of the building bears the following inscrip- 
tion : — " Public Library, The gift of Benjamin Lester 
Lester, esquire, and the honble. W. F. S. Ponsonby y 
representatives of Poole in parliament, 1830." 

THE TOWN HOUSE. 

This building has been erected for the convenience of 
merchants and others, as a news room, and place of 
general resort. It is supplied with the leading London 
daily journals, provincial newspapers, and other periodical 
publications. Subscribers are admitted by ballot. The 
subscription is two pounds per annum. The present town 
house was erected in 1822, on the quay, on the site of the 
structure which had been built in 1727, for the same 
purpose. Over the entrance is sculptured, in bas-relief, a 
likeness of Benjamin Skutt, esq., in whose mayoralty the 
old town house was founded, to which he was one of 
the principal contributors. The reading and news room 
is on the first floor ; and in addition to the newspapers, 
&c, it is furnished with numerous maps. Over the fire- 
place is a very fine painting of king Charles II., in his 
robes of state, supposed to have been presented to the 
society by Mr. Skutt, whose grandfather was in close 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 433 

attendance upon, and much favoured by, that monarch 
during his visit to Poole. Underneath this room is the 
office of the collector of the quay and harbour dues. 

The premises are holden under a licence from the cor- 
poration, dated May 1, 1822, granted to George Welch 
Ledgard and others, for 999 years, at the yearly rent of 
three guineas. And, of the same date, is a declaration of 
trust, by the said George Welch Ledgard and others, trustees, 
reciting that the said licence was granted to them at the 
request of the subscribers or society of the town house, the 
commissioners for watching and lighting the town, and the 
treasurer of the quay dues ; and then declaring the trusts to 
be observed. 

TOWN CELLARS. 

The large building on the quay, known as the town 
cellars, and which has been used for centuries as a place 
for the temporary deposit of goods brought to the town, is 
of considerable antiquity, but so mutilated by time, 
violence, and alterations, that it is difficult to trace in the 
structure itself the characters of its original use. It has 
been conjectured that the general architectural features 
bear indications that the building was formerly devoted to 
ecclesiastical purposes ; but no sufficient evidence can be 
adduced in support of this supposition : and it is more 
probable that the edifice was raised by the ancient lords of 
the manor, as a hall for their accommodation when visiting 
their burgh of Poole, or as a storehouse for the deposit of 
the goods imported here on their account, and of the corn 
and other merchandize taken by them as toll.* That it 



* Tallages were anciently taken in kind ; and, although in the charter granted to 
the burgesses of Poole by William Longespee, many valuable privileges were con- 
ceded, yet the lord retained to himself and his heirs the right to take tallage of the 
burgesses whenever the king should take tallage of his cities and boroughs, 
[cum uero rex quicunque fuerit de ciuitatibus siue burgis suis tallagium ceperit 
secundum consuetudinem ciuitatum et burgorum suorum de dictis burgensibus 
rneis michi et heredibus meis tallagium cepere licebit]. Madox [Exch. 516,] 
says, when the king granted to a subject a demeane manour or town, together 
with the homages, aids, tallages, and other profits thereof, to hold to the grantee and 
his hzhs : in su'.n case, the grantee und hit heirs had power to tallage the men of 



434 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

was used as a storehouse so early as the commencement of 
the fifteenth century is clear from the account of the attack 
by the Spanish privateers, given ante [p. 92]. It is 
spoken of in the Spanish chronicle as a "large building"," 
a "storehouse," "full of arms and sea stores of all kinds." 
It is now held of the manor ; and it was leased to the cor- 
poration so long since as the middle of the sixteenth 
century, and by that body was used as a storehouse for 
merchandize brought to the port, and on which they made 
a charge for cellarage, according to an ancient scale, of 
which a copy is still extant. A view of this building is 
given p. 148. 

THE MARKET. 

It has been already stated that the open arcades beneath 
the guildhall have been appropriated to the purposes of a 
meat market ; but these having been found insufficient to 
afford due accommodation, a large space adjoining was 
set apart and covered in as an additional market place ; 
and want of accommodation being still felt, another 
extensive spot, on the north side of the Unitarian meeting 
house, was, in 1827, appropriated, with convenient sheds 
and a neat entrance, as a fruit, vegetable, and butter 
market. 

The markets of Poole are very well supplied, in regard 
both to the quantity and quality of the meat, vegetables, 
&c, brought for sale, and the prices in general are con- 
siderably lower than those of other markets. The market 
days are Monday and Thursday. The fairs, of which each 
excites the juvenile inhabitants of the town for eight days, 
are held annually on the feast of St. Philip and St. James, 
(May 1) and seven days following, and on the feast of All 
Souls (November 2) and seven days following. 



such manour or town, to their own use, when the king tallaged his demeanes and 
manours throughout England, but not otherwise or at other times. But such inferior 
lord could not rightfully raise tallage oftener or in other manner than the king raised 
tallage in his own demeanes. For the tenants were not, by the king's grant, tallage- 
able to the private lord in any other manner than they would have been to the king, 
if the seigniory had still rested iu the crown. 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 435 

The fish market is h olden in a modern edifice, built for 
the purpose on the quay. It is not well supplied. 

The tolls of the markets and fairs, which are vested in 
the corporation, are at present leased at the sum of £250 
per annum. 

A pitched corn market was formerly held in Poole, in 
the open space, still known by the appellation of " the 
corn market," in the high street. In 1699, sheds were 
erected here for the convenience of the dealers, but these 
have long* since vanished, and the market has been dis- 
continued for a great many years past. 

THE WORKHOUSE. 

The house used as a workhouse is situated in west 
street. The following inscription, borne on the front of 
the building-, states it to have been erected from the 
munificence of Thomas Missing, esq,: — "How commend- 
able are the works of charity. This publick edifice, 
erected for the reception of the poor, was finished in the 
year 1739/ the necessary charges of building it, a?nowit- 
ing to £500, were voluntarily defrayed by the sole 
generosity of Thomas Missing, esq." 

A question was raised some years since by the corpora- 
tion, as to the property of the site of the building, but no 
documents to clear the point could be produced. The 
ground has been in the possession of the parish at least 
since 1739, and does not appear to have been the subject 
of any charitable endowment, either by Mr. Missing (who 
represented the borough), or any other person. 

Until the passing of the poor law amendment act, in 
1834, and the consequent formation of an union, com- 
prising the parish of Saint James, and the adjoining 
parishes and tithings, the house in west street was amply 
sufficient for the purposes of the parish; but the accom- 
modation not fceing sufficiently extensive for the whole 
union, a new house is about to be erected on a spot of 
ground in Longfleet. 



436 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

The great object of our early pauper legislation appears 
to have been the restraint of vagrancy. The earliest 
scheme of a provision for the poor sanctioned by the 
legislature, was by means of regular collections, which, in 
the course of a long" scries of statutes, ending in the 43rd 
Elizabeth, were almost insensibly converted into compul- 
sory assessments. 

Various modes of supplying the wants of the indigent 
prevailed in different parts and at different periods. And 
a practice formerly existed in this port, of levying" the 
tenth part of all grain shipped here, for the relief of the 
poor of the town. This practice appears to have been resisted 
after the passing" of the act 43rd Elizabeth, but by orders 
received from the lord high treasurer of the kingdom, by 
command of the privy council, dated December 22, 1603, 
and in October, 1604, it was directed that the tenth quarter 
of grain, should be set aside for the relief of the poor as 
formerly. 

In an old book in the town chest, entitled " a booke for 
the accompts of the overseers of the powre of the parryshe 
towne and countie of Poole," there are some curious entries. 
This book commences under date of 1598, and is con- 
tinued to 1624. 

In 1598-9, the whole of the receipts appear to have 
consisted of donations, bequests, and 28s. taken out of 
" the poor man's box."^ The payments were chiefly 



* Before the reformation, says Anthony a Wood, " in every church was a poor 
man's box." These boxes are often mentioned so early as the twelfth century. 
The common poor box in the churches appears to have been a shaft of oak, hollowed 
out at the top, covered by a hinged lid of iron, with a slit in it for the money to fall 
through into the cavity, and secured by one or two iron locks. Into these boxes it 
was customary for the benevolent to put money on Sundays. These poor boxes are 
expressly referred to in the statute 27th Henry VIII., c. 25, which directs that the 
head officers of corporate towns, and the churchwardens and two others of every 
parish, who are to remain in office only one year, do collect voluntary alms for the 
purpose of relieving the impotent poor, and that such as be lusty be kept to continual 
labour. The money collected is to be kept in a " common box " in the church, or 
committed to the custody of a substantial trusty man, as they can agree, to be de- 
livered as necessity shall require. Almsgiving, otherwise than to these common 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 437 

sums paid as premiums with apprentices. With John 
Russell, who was apprenticed for nine years, a premium of 
40s. was paid. 

In 1601, the overseers say that they "have gathered 
in the churche upon the book for the relieffe of the poore 
for three quarters of a yeare, their accompte being for no 
more, £9 15s. 6d.," of which there was paid to the poor, 
£9 15s. This " book" must have been the first rate 
levied under the 43rd Eliz. The sum collected offers a 
striking" contrast to some of the annual amounts levied in 
late years. 

In 1602, is this entry, " collected in the churche this 
yeare towards the reliefe of the poore, £11 4s. lid." 

In 1604, nearly all the sums " disbursed towards the 
weakly reliefe of the poore of this town," are stated to 
have been paid to paupers in sickness. 

1609. — The total amount of payments this year was 
£17 7s. 2d. 

In 1611, they amounted to £21 13s. lid. 

In 1616, the ordinary weekly payments are stated at 
£18 12s. lOd. ; and the extraordinary payments, as pre* 
miums with apprentices, allowances to sick people, &c, at 
£10 10s. 7d., making a total of £29 3s. 5d. 

The state of the parochial affairs of Poole, immediately 
prior to the recent formation of the parochial union, may 
be gathered from the following extract from the report 



boxes or common gatherings, or to fellow parishioners or prisoners, is prohibited on 
forfeiture of ten times the amount given. 

After the establishment of a system of compulsory relief to the poor, these poor 
boxes became greatly neglected; and this neglect gave rise to several sly bits of 
satire. It is noted in Hogarth's marriage scene of the ''Rake's progress," by a 
cobweb covering the poor's box in the church. There is an intimation to the same 
effect in one of Beaumont and Fletcher's plays, which further intimates that poor 
boxes had posies : — 

" The poor man's box is there too : if ye find any thing 
Besides the posy, and that half rubbed out too, 
For fear it should awaken too much charity, 
Give it to pious uses : that is, spend it," 

Spanish Curate. 
The posies or mottoes on poor boxes were short sentences to incite benevolence,— 
such as " He that giveth to the poor leudeth to the Lord," &c. 

3 K 



438 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

furnished by D. O. P. Okeden, esq., who, as one of the 
assistant commissioners of inquiry, visited the parish in 
1832. 

" Poole is a town and county, having' its own quarter 
sessions and gaol. It is entirely governed by its own 
magistracy, without any interference of the magistrates of 
the county. 

" Population, 6459. £ s. d. 

" Annual sum expended on the poor for > Q o«* q r 

the year ending Lady-day, ..1830, $ 32bb b b 

Ditto 1831, 3149 13 

Ditto 1832, 3440 17 6 

" There is but one parish in Poole, St. James's ; Poole 
is governed, as to the management of its poor, by the 
Gilbert act. 

" The assistant overseer has £30 per annum. The 
guardian acting, Mr. Hooper, who is the entire manager 
of all that relates to the poor, has £130. 

" The acting guardian and visiters settle the relief to be 
allowed to each pauper. There is scarcely ever an appeal 
to the magistrates. 

" The Workhouse. — The numbers, ages, and sexes of 
the inmates of the workhouse are at present, December, 
1S32, 

" Old and infirm men, some above 90,. . . . 37 

Ditto women, three above 92 42 

Under 13 years old, boys, 21 

Ditto, girls, 29 

Total inmates, 129 

" There are generally about five or six more, somewhat 

younger than the old men and women, who do the work 

of the establishment. 

" The women are mostly widows. The men have 

been sailors and mechanics. The old men occasionally 

pick a little oakum, and some of the less infirm sweep and 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 43& 

clean the streets. These employments may save the parish 
about £40 per annum. 

" The men and women are separated, except in the case 
(there are only two cases) of an old married couple. 

" The board, lodging", clothes, fuel, and all expenses of 
the house, and medical advice, for each individual, 
amounts to a sum not exceeding* 3s. lOd. per week. 

" The children are well instructed, go to the Sunday 
schools, and to church or meeting house. The boys are 
apprenticed to the sea line. There is a very accurate and 
constant visitation of the out-poor at their houses, and every 
means are used to ascertain their characters, and the 
validity of their claims on parish aid. The men, of the 
out-poor, are principally old sailors and some mechanics : 
the women, widows of those classes with families. When 
they have fathers or children able to support them, the 
parish does not relieve the poor, but apply for, and 
procure from the magistrates, an order on the relations. 

" If able-bodied men apply for relief, they are sent to 
the parish farm. Such applications are rare, and the 
applicants soon find work again. 

" About one-tenth of the resident poor are non-parish- 
ioners. The total number of poor relieved out of the 
workhouse is generally 700. The residences of the poor 
are rated, but the rates never demanded. There is a loss 
of about one-third on every rate on this item, as the land- 
lords are not made to pay the rates. 

" Removals and ajjpeals. — The expenses of removals 
are as under : — 

£ 5. d. 
For 1829, 32 5 6 

1830, 27 11 3 

1831, 21 8 9 

Total of three years, 81 5 6 



440 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

£ s. d a 

" Expenses of appeals for 1829, 14 10 6 

1830, 21 13 

1831,.... 19 9 3 



Total of three years, 55 12 9 



" The accounts are all kept by the acting guardian, and 
submitted to and passed, monthly, by the other guardians ; 
and every quarter they are audited and signed by the 
visiter. 

" The accounts are published annually, and sent to all 
the rate payers. 

" 1 have selected the town of Poole as an instance of the 
best management of the poor 1 have met with. 

" The interference of the magistrates is unknown. The 
present acting guardian took on himself the management 
in 1815. In four years he reduced the expenditure 
£2600; and though the population has nearly doubled 
since that period, the rates have never exceeded what they 
were after that reduction." 

Mr. Okeden adds, that he has selected Poole " as an 
instance of a large, trading, populous, borough town, 
where, perfect confidence being placed by the magistrates 
in the decisions of the vestry, and in the management of 
the assistant guardian of the poor, no interference takes 
pkice, and where all that relates to the government of the 
poor, seems to me to be of unrivalled excellence." 

Parochial Union. — The consequence of the inquiry, of 
which Mr. Okeden 's investigation formed part, was the 
adoption, by act of parliament, of a new system of admin- 
istering parochial relief, and the formation of several 
adjoining parishes into a parochial union. The Poole 
union, which was formed November 2, 1835, comprised 
the parish of St. James, Poole, with 4 guardians; the 
parish of Canford Magna, 1 ; the parish of Lvtchett 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 



441 



Minster 1 ; the parish of Lytchett Matravers, 1 ; the parish 
of Hamworthy, 1 ; the tithing of Kingston, 1 ; the tithing 
of Parkstone, 1 ; the tithing of Longfieet, 1. Total num- 
ber of elected guardians forming the board, 11. The 
three last-named tithings belong to the parish of Great 
Canford, but keep their poor separately. 

Since the formation of the union, the expenditure for the 
poor in each parish has been considerably reduced. The 
following is a statement of the annual expenditure in 
parochial relief for the parish of St. James, Poole, in 
different years : — In the year ending Lady-day, 1765, the 
expenditure was £637 18s. 3d.; in 1770, it had increased 
to £1062 15s. SJd. ; in 1780, it was somewhat reduced, 
amounting to £946 2s. 9d. ; in 1790, it was £1502 13s. 
3f (). ; and, in 1800, it had advanced to £2577 Is. 2f d. 
It continued varying a little, but with about the same 
average, till after the close of the war in 1815, when, as the 
natural consequence of combined circumstances, pauperism 
suddenly increased to a most alarming extent. The'fol- 
lowing is a table of the annual expenditure in relief of the 
poor from 1815; together with the actual amount of poor 
rates levied in the parish in the respective years : — 



EXPENDITURE. 



1815-6, 

1816-7, 

1817-8, 

1818-9, 

1819-20, 

1824-5, 

1829-30, 

1834-5, 



£ s. 
2842 5 
3696 3 
4529 18 
3845 15 
3534 18 
3217 8 
3265 13 
2947 9 



8 . 

9 . 
1 . 
3 . 

5i. 
0J. 
. 

7 . 



The apparent discrepancy between 
given year and the amount levied 
reconciled by the fact that many p; 
relief of the poor, are made out of 



SUMS LEVIED. 

£ s. d. 
. . 2376 18 4 
. . 3726 11 11 
. . 6309 5 10 
. . 5102 17 6 
. . 4170 10 
.. 4020 9 7 
. . 3809 7 9 
. . 3224 10 4 
the expenditure of a 
in that year, may be 
ivments, not for the 
the poor rate. The 



442 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 



county rate, for instance, down to the alteration in the 
municipal system, amounting* to £200 per annum, was 
paid out of the poor rate. It has been succeeded by the 
borough rate, paid from the same fund. 

The following" is a statement of the total expenditure for 
each parish in the union, from the formation of the union 
on the 2nd of November, 1835, to the 25th of Mareh, 
1837, being* a period of seventeen months; together with 
other particulars, shewing" the comparative amount of 
reduction in the expenditure: — 



Parishes. 


Charge upon 
each parish. 


Average annual 

expenditure, from 

1833 to 1835. 


Ratio of 

annual 

reduction. 


Popula- 
tion in 
1831. 




£ s. 


d. 


£ 


£ s. 




Poole, 


3306 15 


4 


3236 


908 3 


6459 


Kinson, 


343 14 


61 


384 


141 8 


775 


Canford, .... 


405 13 


9 


477 


190 3 


876 


Longfleet. . . . 


283 11 


H 


336 


135 17 


840 


Parkstone, . . 


131 14 


3i 


133 


40 


609 


Hamworthy , . 


117 1 


2 


149 


66 8 


308 


Lytchett > 
Matravers $ 


182 16 


3J 


277 


142 4 


505 


Lytchett > 
Minster, . . 5 


251 16 


n 


244 


46 6 


680 


Total,. . . . 


5023 2 


in 


5216 


1670 9 


11052 















A custom has prevailed in the parish of St. James, 
Poole, of rating to the relief of the poor, not only houses 
and land, but stock in trade ; and this custom has occa- 
sionally given rise to protracted and expensive litigation. 
The relative proportions in which the different species of 
property are assessed are as follows : — In every rate of 3s. 
in the pound on land and houses, the stock in trade of 
tradesmen and the exports and imports of merchants are 
assessed at 7s. 6d. in every £100, and all ships of 30 tons 
and upwards, at 3Jd. per ton. 



443 



ftcmatftatrte $cc£on£* 



Brief biographical notices of the more distinguished 
individuals who have been from time to time officially 
connected with Poole, having been already given in the 
course of this volume, it now remains to speak of those few 
persons who, having the town as the place of their nativity, 
have been distinguished in their lives, though not associ- 
ated with Poole by any official tie. 

The rev. John Lewis, M.A., an eminent divine and 
antiquary, grandson of the rev. Mr. Lewis, vicar of Worth, 
in the isle of Purbeck, was born here in 1673, but his 
family having removed to Bristol soon after his birth, be 
was there baptised. He was educated at Exeter college, 
Oxford, and afterwards returned to Poole, where he taught 
grammar. He thus became acquainted with the rev. John 
Russell, at that time minister of Poole, and a warm friend- 
ship sprung up between them ; so much so, that on Mr. 
Russell being appointed preacher at St. John's, Wapping, 
he invited Mr. Lewis to leave Poole and reside with him. 
Mr. Russell being much favoured by archbishop Tennison, 
introduced his friend to that prelate, who, in 1705, pre- 
ferred him to the vicarage of Margate, Kent, which he 
enjoyed upwards of forty years. Through his acquaintance 



444 REMARKABLE PERSONS. 

with Mr. Russell, the subject of our notice was also intro- 
duced to Mr. Joseph Ames, the celebrated author of 
" Typographical Antiquities," with whom he formed a 
friendship that ended but with the life of Mr. Lewis. Lt is 
worthy of remark, that by his attendance on the lectures of 
Desaguliers, in 1720, Mr. Ames also formed an acquaint- 
ance with Mr. [afterwards sir Peter] Thompson, another 
eminent native of Poole, which continued uninterruptedly 
till the death of Mr. Ames, in 1759. Sometime before the 
year 1730, Mr. Lewis, who had collected materials for a 
history of printing, suggested the idea of such a work to 
Mr. Ames, who, after a great number of years spent in 
collecting and arranging his materials, in which he was 
largely assisted by Mr. Lewis and other learned friends, 
published, in 1749, his very valuable and accurate work.^ 
Mr. Lewis, who died 1746, left many MSS., particularly 
two volumes, in folio, of the " History of the Anabaptists," 
now in the Bodleian library. His " Brief history of the 
rise and progress of Anabaptism in England," with some 
account of Wickliffe, with large additions in manuscript, 
prepared for the press ; and several others of his treatises 
of ecclesiastical antiquities so prepared, were purchased, 
at Mr. Ames's sale, by Mr. West. His " Life of bishop 
Peacock," with his manuscript notes, was purchased by 
Mr. Ratcliffe. Newton's " History of Maidstone," with 
Mr. Lewis's notes, came subsequently into the possession 
of Mr. Gough. " Notitia Diocesis Cantuariensis," " Col- 
lections for Kent," "Antiquities for Richborough, Sand- 
wich, and Stonar," were purchased by Dr. Cornwallis, 
archbishop of Canterbury. Wickliffe's New Testament, 



* Mr. Ames's private copy of his " Typographical Antiquities," interleaved with 
a great number of manuscript additions and notes, by himself, together with the 
plates, blocks, and copyright of the same, were purchased, at the sale of his library,. 
by his friend, sir Peter Thompson, for £'.), and by him sold to Mr. William Herbert, 
who, 1785 — '■)'), published a second edition, very greatly augmented, in three quarto 
volumes. The life of Mr. Ames prefixed to this edition, was compiled from memoirs 
furnished by sir refer Thompson. A third edition has since appeared, under the 
pen of the celebrated bibliographer, Dr. T. F; Dibdin. 



REMARKABLE PERSONS. 445 

with a History of the several English translations of the 
Bible, with a great number of manuscript notes and ad- 
ditions, was bought by Mr. Wilcox, the bookseller. Dr. 
Ducarel had " A new preface to Mr. Lewis's History of 
Wickliffe," an octavo volume, in the author's own hand 
writing, and which afterwards came into the possession of 
Mr. Nichols. During his lifetime, Mr, Lewis had puta 
lished the following works : — 

The History of the English Translations of the Bible, 1731, folio, 
Republished in 8vo., 1739. 

A collection of Prayers for the Sick. 

An Exposition of the Catechism. 

The Life of Mayster Wyllyam Caxton, of the weald of Kent, the first 
printer in England, 1737, 8vo. Of this rare volume (Dr. Dibdin believes) 
only 150 copies were printed, all upon royal paper. It is a work of 
great value and utility, and was of much service to Pr f Dibdip, in his 
bibliographical researches. 

The Life of John Wickliffe, 1740, 8vo. 

Antiquity and Use of Seals in England, 1740, qto. 

The Life of bishop Peacpck, 1744, 8vo. 

The History of the Isle of Thanet, 1723, qto. Re-printed in 1736, 

The History of Feversham Abbey, 1?27, qto. 

Mr, Lewis was married ; and his wife died suddenly, of 
apoplexy, Dec. 15, 1719, aged 44. She was buried in the 
south side of the chancel at Margate, where her husband 
was also interred. He erected a mural monument, with 
an English inscription, to her memory; and a black slab, 
with a Latin inscription, has been placed over the remains 
pf both, 

The rev. Nicholas Gibbon, D,D., an eminent orthodox 
divine, and a firm adherent to the royal cause during the 
great rebellion, was the son of Nicholas Gibbon, of Heck-» 
ford, a burgess of Poole, and was born at Poole, 1605, 
Having been entered at Queen's college, Oxford, 1622, he 
removed to Edmund hall, 1632, where he proceeded 
D.D., 1639, having been rector of Seven Oaks, Kent, 
seven years. Steady and unwavering in his fidelity to the 
church and the throne, with a loyalty that no circumstances 

3 L 



446 REMARKABLE PERSONS. 

could shake, and a bold candour that ever forbade the 
concealment of his sentiments, he necessarily became one 
of the sufferers from the political and religious convulsions 
to which the kingdom was subject in his day ; and the 
fortitude with which he endured privation and distress of 
great extremity, the uncompromising integrity with which, 
under adverse circumstances, he maintained his principles, 
and the cheerful readiness he manifested to undertake the 
most menial offices, for the subsistence of himself and 
family, combine in forming a rare example of enduring 
virtue. He was sequestered in 1645. And after this, 
1647, the king, who greatly esteemed him, sent for him 
to the isle of Wight. His attachment to his sovereign 
— an attachment which appears to have been reciprocal — 
occasioned his being turned out of Seven Oaks, with a 
family of eleven children. He then rented a piece of land 
at £4 per annum, tilling it with his own hands. He drove 
his plough himself, his second son, Dr. Nicholas Gibbon, 
afterwards a noted physician at Lyme Regis and Weymouth, 
holding it. But he was afterwards obliged to give up his 
land, and lived with a farmer as his servant. Even in this 
obscure condition, he was not free from persecution. 
Being seized, he was brought before the committee in Kent 
for examination. They asked him how he spent his time : 
he answered, that by day he wrought for his master, and a 
great part of the night he spent in study; and he then 
shewed them his hands, callous and hard with labour. 
Some pitied, others derided him ; to whom he made this 
spirited and noble return, "Mallem callum in manu quam 
in conscientia." The result of this examination was, that 
the committee tendered him the covenant for subscription, 
accompanied by a promise of his living. Uninfluenced 
alike by temptation or by menace, he at once rejected the 
offer. He afterwards encountered great difficulties; but 
was eventually presented to the rectory of Corfe Castle, 
though not admitted to it till after the restoration. He 



REMARKABLE PERSONS. 447 

died and was buried there, 1697,, aged 92. He wrote 
several works on divinity, of which a list is given in 
Wood's Athenae. 

Sir Peter Thompson, knt., F.R.S., and F.A.S., the third 
son of captain Thomas Thompson, of Poole, was born 
there Oct. 30, 1698, and died Oct. 31, 1770. Sir Peter 
was an eminent Hamburgh merchant, engaged in mercan- 
tile business more than forty years, during which period 
he chiefly resided in mill street, Bermondsey, Surrey. He 
was included in the commission of the peace, and was 
appointed high sheriff of that county, 1745. Upon the 
breaking out of the rebellion in Scotland, he presented to 
the king a loyal address and association from the county, 
and on that occasion received the honour of knighthood. 
He represented the borough of St. Albans in parliament 
from 1747 to 1754. Endowed with great humanity and 
good natural parts, he supplied the want of a liberal 
education by a conversation with men and books; and 
made it his choice, in 1763, to withdraw from the engage- 
ments of commercial affairs, that he might enjoy the 
pleasures of studious retirement and reflection, and the 
conversation of his friends, in the place of his birth. Here 
he lived, respected by all ranks for his affability and 
benevolence. In 1746, he built a handsome house, in an 
agreeable situation in market street, and generally resided 
there till his death. At a great expense he formed a 
capital collection of books, manuscripts, fossils, and other 
literary and antiquarian curiosities. This valuable library 
and museum, by the bequest of sir Peter, became the 
property of his kinsman and heir, Peter Thompson, esq., 
captain of the company of grenadiers in the Surrey militia. 
The house is now the property and residence of Mr. George 
Kemp. Sir Peter was a lover of our national antiquities, 
and many years Fellow of the Royal and Antiquarian 
Societies. He collected, with great care and expense, 



448 



REMARKABLE PERSONS. 



ancient records relating to Poole, both from the public 
offices in London, as well as from the archives in the town, 
Which he kindly communicated to the rev. John Hutchins, 
when that gentleman was engaged in his History of 
Dorsetshire* His sister, Mrs* Haseldine, dying a few days 
before him, Oct. 26, they were both interred together, as 
his elder brother, and Mr* Haseldine, had been, some 
years before* in the churchyard of Poole. Sir Peter was 
admitted a burgess of Poole, June 6, 1744. 

Robert Rogers, an eminent merchant of London, and 
especially distinguished by the munificent charitable 
bequests contained in his will, of which mention has been 
already made, was a native of Poole* He founded the 
alms houses in west street* 

The honourable and astonishing exploits of captains 
Jolliffe and Thompson, both natives of Poole, have been 
recorded in a previous page. 




440 



ft9i£ceUfttieoUj£ $otttc£» 



From the nature of the plan that has been adopted* 
throughout this volume, of bringing down to the present 
day, the notices of each separate branch of historical or 
topographical inquiry, it necessarily follows that little is 
now to be added, in order to lay before the reader the 
actual present state of Poole. It remains merely to give 
a few miscellaneous notices of matters not immediately 
included in the regular series of subjects that form the 
body of the work. 

The town of Poole presents to the strangef a very 
favourable appearance. The streets are, in general, wide, 
well paved) and remarkably clean : the houses, substantially 
and comfortably built, indicate more than an average 
degree of respectability on the part of the occupiers; and 
the many alterations effected during the last few years, 
have materially improved the more striking features of 
the town* Amongst the public improvements may be 
mentioned the direct and pleasing entrance, by which the 
old awkwardly circuitous Way of approaching the town 
has been superseded* — the increased facility of communi- 
cation to the westward, by the erection of a bridge across 
the channel between Poole and Ham worthy, — the widen- 
ing and other improvements of the streets, — the extension 



450 



MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



and augmented accommodation of the admirable line of 
quays,— the enlargement of the market place, — and the 
re-erection of the parish church, followed by the founda- 
tion of the church of St. Paul, and of a church in each of 
the three outlying hamlets. These public improvements, 
with others, have been effected within the last twenty years, 
and are in addition to that general enhancement of appear- 
ance that has naturally resulted from the increase of 
population, and the expansion of private spirit and 
speculation. 

Population, — The number of inhabitants of the borough 
of Poole, by the census of 1831, was 8216. The popula- 
tion of the different districts in 1801, 1811, 1821, and 1831, 
according to the census of the respective years, was as 
follows: — 





1801 


1811 


1821 


1831 


Average of real 
property inl815 


St. James, Poole, 

Longfleet, 

Parkstone, 

Hamworthy, .... 


4761 
504 
206 
330 


4816* 

485 
231 

288 


6390f 
810 
385 
313 


6459+ 
840 
609 
308 


£10,870 

1,604 

729 

793 


Total, .. 


5801 


5820 


7898 


8216 


£13,996 



The present population of the borough (1837) is esti- 
estimated at 10,091. 

Some particulars relative to the population of the ancient 
borough of Poole, in 1573, are given p. 103, and that the 

• In 1811, there were in the parish of St. James, 2143 males, 2673 females, total 
4816. The houses were 1029 inhabited, 2 building, and 28 uninhabited, total 1059. 
The 1029 inhabited houses were occupied by 1104 families, of Avhom 1032 were 
employed in trade, manufactures, or handicrafts, and none in agriculture. 

+ In 1821, there were in the same parish, 3014 males, 3376 females, total 6390. The 
inhabited houses were 1118, 17 building, and 55 uninhabited, total 1290. The inhab- 
ited houses -were occupied by 1378 families, of whom 1311 were employed in trade, 
manufactures, or handicrafts, and 2 chiefly in agriculture. 

t In 1831, the population of the same parish was, males, 2884, females, 3575, total 
6459. 



MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



451 



number there mentioned (1-373) is the correct amount of 
the inhabitancy at that period, is evident from the institu- 
tion of a comparison between the parish registers about 
that date and those of more recent years, in which the 
unquestionable number of the inhabitants has been 
ascertained. 

The parochial register of St. James, Poole, is of a very 
early date, commencing in the very year (1538) in which 
that important document was officially instituted by the 
order of lord Cromwell."^ Many of the early pages of 
the baptisms are in so dilapidated a condition, that it is 
impossible to decipher the contents. The following is a 
statement of the numbers at various periods: — 











The average 








Years. 


Baptisms. 


Marriages. 


Burials 


. of 10 years 
ending 


Baptisms, 


Marriages. 


Burials, 










1790 


101 


53 


101 


1550 


50 


9 


30 


1800 


139 


49 


133 


1600 


38 


16 


30 


1810 


112 


39 


89 


1654 


47 


19 


37 


1820 


153 


51 


97 


1700 


49 


17 


30 


In 








1740 


73 


34 


98 


1830 


191 


66 


143 


1780 


54 


42 


84 


1836 


187 


51 


132 



* The general adoption of parochial registers of hirths, marriages, and burials, did 
not take place in England at so early a period as in some other European States. In 
Spain, for instance, it appears that these records -were instituted "by cardinal Ximenes, 
in the year 1497, in order to remedy the disorders arising from the frequency of 
divorces in that country; whilst the earliest period at which we find, in England, 
any decisive authority for the regular keeping of parochial registers, is in the year 
1538, 30th Henry VIII., soon after Thomas, lord Cromwell, was appointed the 
king's vicegerent for ecclesiastical jurisdiction. In this capacity, he issued several 
injunctions to the clergy, one of which ordains that " every officiating minister 
shall, for every church, keep a hook, wherein he shall register every marriage, 
christening, and burial." The injunction goes on to direct the time and manner in 
which such entries shall be made, omission of which is made penal. Sundry procla- 
mations and orders were subsequently issued to enforce the proper degree of attention 
to be paid to this injunction, but it nevertheless appears to have been very imperfectly 
regarded, and the registers were subsequently found to be so greatly neglected, 
that Elizabeth rendered imperative a law which forbade any other substance than 
parchment being used in the preservation of the parish registers. This order was the 
more necessary, as the principal ground upon which the negligence of the culpable 
officers was overlooked was, that the registers, being formerly kept on loose and de- 
tached sheets of paper, were not only mislaid and lost, but also decayed and destroyed 
by age, damp, and, perhaps, by means less fair than these. This injunction, with 
others issued by the same sovereign in the 1st, 7th, and 39th years of her rei"-n, 



452 MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 

The early registers of baptisms give, amongst other 
particulars, the names of the sponsors ; thus, " 1557. 
Thomas Lambard the son off Thomas Lambard vvasse 
baptvsed by s r brysse tayler y e xxi daye of October god- 
fathers John Scryuyn SynthynRede and godmother Marye 
Lambard." But in 1588, the entries were much simplified, 
and ran in the following style 2 — " 22 Sept. Edward Man 
the sone of Edward Man was baptized," 

Shortly after the commencement of the register, the 
following entry of a marriage occurs: — *' 1539. Mast r 
John Horssey knyght of the p'ysshe of Clyffton was maryd 
to Edith Stocker the wyffe late off John Stocker m'chawnte 
of Pole the xiiij day of December be p'vylegge gevyn by 
owr sup'me hedd of the chyrche of Ingelonde kynge 
Henry the viij th ." 

In the register of marriages, the following entry occurs 
under date of June 17, 1658: — " John Hanne late of the 
parish of Maugin in Cornwall now of wimborne in Dorset 
gent' and Mary Arrendell daught* of Tho! Arrendell gent' 
deceased was lawfully published in the markett place and 
no objection to the contrayie." 

Local Taxation^ — The pressure of local taxation in the 
town of Poole is by no means so heavy as in other similar 
towns. The poor rate in the old borough, for the last 
twenty-five years, has been levied on an annual average of 
8s. 2d. in the £ on land and houses, but as these have 
hitherto been assessed only at about two-*thirds of the real 



caused somewhat better regard to be paid to these important records. Still, in many 
parts of England they were very negligently and imperfectly kept until late years, 
and being in the custody of the churchwardens, who changed from year to year, old 
registers were frequently lost or destroyed. As a recent instance, in Northampton- 
shire, a piece of an old parish register was not long since found upon the pillow of a, 
lace maker, with the pattern of her work pricked upon it, Since the year 1813, 
registers are appointed to be uniformly kept throughout the kingdom, and, perhaps, 
with few exceptions, they are so kept with great care. 

It is not to be inferred that no parochial registers were kept in England before the 
injunction of lord Cromwell; for there are many instances to attest that like records; 
were preserved in several parishes. Thus the parish register of Coombe Keynes, the 
earliest in the county of Dorset, commences so early as the year 1502, 



MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 453 

annual value, the actual assess menf has been at the rate of 
5s. 6d. only in the £ on the rental ; and a reduction on this 
amount has been effected since the formation of the paro- 
chial union under the poor law amendment act. 

The enactment of a law rendering the landlords of small 
tenements liable to payment of the poor rate would operate 
in a considerable reduction of the annual rate of assessment, 
in this parish, as nearly two-thirds of the houses assessed 
have been ordinarily excused on account of the poverty 
of the occupiers ; so that on an assessment of 3s. in the £, 
which is the usual rate, amounting to about £2000, little 
more than £1300 is actually collected; but the wisdom 
and justice of such a measure are very questionable on 
other considerations. 

The borough rate is included in the poor rate. 

A church rate of Is. 6d. in the £, towards paying off the 
principal and interest of a debt contracted at the time of 
rebuilding the church, is annually collected, under an act 
of parliament ; and will continue payable until about the 
year 1856. A rate of about 9d. in the £, for the current 
expenses of the church, is also annually collected. Stock 
in trade, shipping, and exports and imports, have been 
also assessed in these rates."^ 

The lighting rate amounts to 6d. in the £, per annum. 

There is also a scavenger's rate, which produces about 
£350 per annum. 

Communications, — The facilities of communication be- 
tween Poole and other parts of the kingdom, are very 
convenient ; and the number of coaches that now daily 
arrive and depart, connecting the town with all parts of 
the kingdom, the rapidity of their journeying, and the 



* Whilst this sheet was going through the press, the parishioners assembled 
in vestry, unanimously agreed that, for the future, stock in trade, shipping, and 
exports and imports, should not be assessed to the poor rate, and these descriptions 
of property are consequently exempted from contributing to any assessment in the 
parish. This determinatian will prevent the re-agitation of a much litigated question, 
and will, probably, tend to promote the commercial prosperity of the town, 

3 INI 



454 MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 

punctuality of their arrival, are favourably contrasted with 
the fact, that a few years since, the mail coach was the only 
established regular mode of communication, arriving three 
hours later, and departing two hours earlier, than at the 
present time. Wagons, also, for the conveyance of goods, 
to and from any part of the country, regularly arrive in and 
depart from this town. Packets, likewise, constantly ply 
between Poole, London, Portsmouth, Southampton, Swan- 
age, Wareham, and other ports; and an improvement in the 
communication by water, by the adoption of navigation by 
steam packets between the four ports first named, has been 
just effected. There is a packet also that sails to, and 
returns from, the islands of Guernsey and Jersey. 

The London and general mail arrives at nine o'clock, 
a.m., and leaves at five, p.m. The Wareham and Isle of 
Purbeck mail leaves at half past eight, a.m., and arrives at 
half past five, p. m. 

Education. — The institutions in Poole, for gratuitous 
education, are the schools established in connection with 
the national society, and the Sunday schools founded in 
connection with the parish church of St. James, the church 
of St. Paul, and the different dissenting congregations. 

The national school is situated at Perry-garden ; it is a 
large building well adapted to the purpose, and was erected 
in 1835, from funds raised for that object, to which the 
corporation contributed £100, and the national society 
£150, the remainder being provided by private subscrip- 
tions. The school is supported by private contributions, 
aided by the proceeds of Harbin's charity. There are 
now educated in the school, 137 boys and 96 girls. 
[y. p. 408.] 

The Sunday school established in connection with the 
parish church of St. James, has been already spoken of 
amongst the other endowed charities, [v. p. 412.] 

A sunday school was founded in connection with the 
church of St. Paul, immediately after the opening of that 



MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 455 

building-. It is supported by private contributions, and 
about 200 children are educated in it. 

There is a Savings Bank in the town, of which Mr. 
J. B. Bloomfield is the actuary. At the period of the last 
annual report, viz. in 1837, there were 659 depositors, the 
aggregate of whose deposits amounted to £26,847 16s. 

A room in a private house in Barber's piles, has been set 
apart as a Masonic Hall; a lodge of freemasons having 
been founded here April 5, 1765, being the Lodge of 
Amitv, No. 160.* 



* In this lodge is preserved a memorial of one of the most striking instances on 
record, of the prevalence of masonic sympathy ; and which occured in the experience 
of one of the brethren of the lodge. This memorial is a biscuit of coarse bread, 
preserved in a glass frame, and hung up in the lodge, with the following inscription :— 

"This biscuit is preserved by the Lodge of Amity, as a memorial of their gratitude 
nnd brotherly affectum for Jacques de Bon, captain of the 'Junon,' French privateer, of 
St. Maloes, who captured at sea, on the 13th of December, at 11 a.m. 1813, in lat. 49<> 50' 
N., long. 70 o W., the brig ' Oak', of Poole, brother Stephen Pack, master, belonging 
to brothers G. W. Ledgard and John Gosse, on her passage from Bilboa to Poole, 
who, after treating him and his crew with every mark of kindness, returned him his 
vessel, and sent on board a dog (which before had been taken from a brother) with 
this biscuit suspended by a string round his neck, signifying that he would not keep 
a brother's dog in bondage, nor see him want bread. 

" Thus the man who holds forth his hand for the relief of his necessitous brethren, 
is amply repaid by the gratitude of those whom he relieves, by the approbation of 
his own mind, and X>y the favour of that Omnipotent Being, who tills all space, and 
whose omniscient eye cannot behold such a bright display of masonic viitues, 
without assenting his divine and everlasting approbation. " 

The occurrence thus commemorated, was related at the lodge on the 19th "of 
December, 1813, after another somewhat similar instance of the extent to which the 
fraternal regard and philanthropic charity, inculcated by masonry, had prevailed over 
the usages of warfare, in the conduct of the same capt. de Bon, had been detailed. 
The relation is thus recorded in the books of the lodge: — " Our R.W.M., G. W. 
Ledgard, related another pleasing anecdote of the same person, capt. Jacques de Bon : 
viz. a vessel of his, having been captured by the 'Junon', about a week after the capture 
of our Guernsey brother's s vesssel, the master, brother Stephen Pack, instantly on 
the coming on board of the prize-master, discovered himself to bea mason to him, who 
also happened to be one ; he took one turn on the deck, and then came and shook brother 
Pack by the hand, and told him he would not carry him a prisoner to France. He 
then hailed the privateer and received an answer, but what, brother Pack could not say 
(not understanding French). He was then ordered on board the privateer, where he 
received the same brotherly kindness from capt. de Bon, who immediately restored 
him to his vessel, and told him to make the best of his way for England. In getting 
into hia boat to return on board his own vessel, the Frenchmen, he observed, were very 
careful in putting a little dog also in the boat. Brother Pack told them he did not 
want the dog, and did not wish to have it, but they persisted in putting it on board 
his vessel. After the Frenchman had quitted him for good, he observed something 
hanging to the neck of this little dog, and on examination, he found it to be a cake of 
bread, with a hole in the middle, and was tied round the dog's neck with a ropeyarn. 
This dog, brother Pack afterwards found, belonged to a captain Storey, who was also 
a brother, and who had been captured, and again released, a few days previous to 
brother Tack's capture by our kind brother De Bon, 



456 



€J>e $eto SDijmict, 



All the municipal privileges of Poole were formerly 
confined to the parish of St. James ; but in 1832, by the 
boundary act, which was coincident with the parliamen- 
tary reform act, the chapelry of Hamworthy, the hamlet 
of Parkstone, and the tithing of Longfleet, were added to 
the old borough, for parliamentary purposes ; and by the 
municipal corporation act, in 1835, that district also be- 
came an integral portion of the borough, for all municipal 
purposes. These places constitute a territory, contiguous 
to and surrounding the old borough, Hamworthy being 
separated from the town by a narrow channel of the 
harbour, 

HAMWORTHY. 

The name of Hamworthy, etymologically considered, is 
admirably descriptive of its situation. ' Ham,' derived 
originally from ( himmel* the heavens, or over-canopy sky, 
denoted first a covering or shelter, and so came to signify 
a home, a house, or a hamlet ; and « worthy,' anciently 
4 wearth,' designated a place situated between two rivers, or, 
as old Verstegan has it, "the nook of land where two 
waters passing by the two sides thereof, do enter the one 
into the other." Thus these two Saxon words, describing 
a hamlet between two waters, denote, as accurately as 



THE NEW DISTRICT. 457 

concisely, the local peculiarity of Hamworthy, which is thus 
graphically delineated by Leland, " there lyith agayn the 
kay [of Poole,] a point of land, as a causey, after the 
facion of a brode swerd with a sharp ; the poynte is agayn 
towarde the town, and the broad part hangynge up to the 
land, and by this causey men cum from Lichet to the 
fery." 

Hamworthy is erroneously described in the boundary 
act as a parish, it being a chapelry, tithing, and hamlet, in 
the parish of Sturminster Marshall ; maintaining its own 
poor. It is situated in Cogdean hundred, and is now a 
separate manor, divided into Higher and Lower Ham, 
though it anciently followed the fortunes of Sturminster 
Marshall, and together with that manor, was amongst the 
possessions of archbishop Stigand, in the time of Edward 
the confessor, and, after the conquest, was granted to Roger 
de Belmont. It was afterwards, as we find by inquisitions of 
the 36th Ed. III., and 5th Hen. VI., possessed, together 
with Sturminster, by the family of the Turbervilles, who 
had large estates at Bere Regis and the neighbourhood. 
In the 17th Ed. 111., John de Beauchamp held a knight's 
fee here : and 8th Hen. IV., John Plecy held one carucate 
of land, in South Ham, juxta Poole, of the inheritance of 
the earl of Sarum, a minor; a third of a messuage in 
Sturminster Marshall, of the inheritance of Thomas Gorges, 
a minor; and six acres and a half of land, of William 
Stourton, as of his manor of Tarent-Vilers. Mr. Coker 
says, that a branch of the Carys, or Carews, had inhabited 
here for some descents. They were seated here till Hen. 
VIII., and derive their descent from Thomas, third son of 
John Carew, of Anthony, in Cornwall, a younger branch of 
the Carews of Haccomb, co. Devon. From 1646 to 1653, 
Mr. Carew's old rents of a manor house here, value £14 
per annum, and his farm were sequestered. There still 
remains at Higher Ham, a large ancient house, once the 
seat of the family, but for many years past turned into a 



458 THE NEW DISTRICT. 

farmhouse. Lower Ham seems to have formed at one time, 
a small separate manor : for 7th Eliz., Thomas, son of 
John Worsley, held the manor of South Ham, or Ham- 
worthy, 20 messuages, 10 tofts, and 4 JO acres of land, of 
the manor of Canford, by suit of court at the hundred of 
Cockdene, and 43s. rent : and left Frances, his daughter 
and heir, married to Lionel Tichborne, Get. 30. 14th Cb. 
I. two parts of this manor were granted inter alia, to Bryan 
Williams and Richard Bingham, for 21 years, by reason 
of the recusancy of — Carew, if it remained so long in the 
king's hands. Both these manors seem afterwards to have 
come again to the Carews, who conveyed them, in the 
beginning of the last century, to the Webbs, of Canford, 
and they have since descended with that manor. 

The chapel is a new building, having been erected in 
1826, and stands at the east end of Higher Ham, near the 
mansion house, on the site occupied by the ruins of the old 
chapel ; which was ruined in the civil wars, and only the 
walls remained, until the present edifice was raised. The 
ruins denoted the old chapel to have been a small ancient 
fabric, consisting of a chancel, body, and a small turret at 
the west end. It was 54 feet in length by 17 feet in width. 
The inhabitants continued to bury in the chapel and chapel 
yard. The present chapel is a neat structure, and the 
foundation stone was laid, Sep. 8, 1825, by the hon. W. 
F. S. Ponsonby, and it was consecrated August 17, 1826, 
bv the right rev. Dr. John Kaye, bishop of Bristol. 

This chapelry is part of the vicarage of Sturminster 
Marshall, of which the provost and fellows of Eton college 
are the patrons, and the rev. Dr. Matthew Irving is the 
present incumbent. In the return to the commission of 
1650, it was stated that the church was pulled down in the 
late wars, for the preservation of the Poole garrison : that 
it was five miles distant from Sturminster, to which it 
belonged ; that it was near to Poole, and two miles distant 
from any other church or chapel, and fit to be united 



/ 







THE NEW DISTRICT. 459 

to Poole; that the value of the parsonage was £13 6s. 8d., 
which, since the chapel was pulled down, was for the 
most part received by Mr. Hardy, of Sturminster, and the 
rest disposed of for ministers who came sometimes from 
Lytchett and Poole ; that four or five years after the 
chapel was pulled down, the profits of the parish were 
applied to the use of the garrison of Poole, and afterwards 
one year's tithe was paid to Mr. Haddesley, then minister 
of Poole. 

No donations or charitable benefits have been given to 
or belong to this place. 

The estimated annual value of real property in Ham- 
worthy, in the year 1815, was £793. 

The chapelry of Hamworthy does not extend over the 
whole of the peninsula on which it is situated, a portion of 
which, at the extreme point, appertains to the parish of St. 
James, Poole, and is locally known as the Ham side. The 
boundary between Hamworthy and the parish of St. James, 
is denoted by a stone erected there some years since. This 
part of the parish of St. James is used as a ballast quay, 
at which vessels load and discharge ballast, of which at 
times very large quantities are deposited here. There 
are, both here and in the adjoining portion of Hamworthy, 
spacious yards in which ship-building is carried on to a 
considerable extent. 

The communication across the channel dividing Ham- 
worthy from the town, was, for several centuries, by means 
of a ferry, belonging to the corporation. The most ancient 
document extant regarding this ferry is a lease, dated in 
1541, by which the ferry and passage house were demised 
to John Henbury, for 51 years, at the yearly rent of a 
couple of capons. The ferry is still continued, and the 
lessee is entitled to one penny per quarter from every 
householder, and one half-penny for the passage of every 
stranger. The collection from the householders is made 
quarterly through the town. 



460 THE NEW DISTRICT. 

The project of a bridge to make the connection between 
Hamworthy and Poole more intimate was frequently sug- 
gested, but was not carried into execution until very 
recently, when a company having been formed for the 
purpose, an act of parliament was obtained, under which 
an elegant wooden bridge has been erected somewhat 
farther up the harbour than the old ferry, in order that as 
little obstruction as possible should be offered to the ship- 
ping. The bridge is constructed on the swivel principle 
so as to afford easy passage to vessels. By the erection of 
this bridge, and the contemporaneous alteration of some of 
the roads in the neighbourhood, the town of Poole has 
been rendered a thoroughfare, and the distance between it 
and Blandford, Wareham, and other towns to the west, les- 
sened by about two miles. The bridge was opened in 1837. 

PARKSTONE. 

Parkstone is a hamlet in the tithing of Kinson, in the 
parish of Great Canford, maintaining its own poor. The 
village of Parkstone is delightfully situated, and from its 
scenic beauties, convenient distance from the town, and its 
proximity to the sea, it has, within the last few years, been 
much frequented, so that its population is rapidly increasing. 

It was in Parkstone that lord Mountjoy established his 
copperas and alum works : and after these went to decay, 
salterns were constructed there ; but these also are now in 
ruins, not having been worked for many years. 

Parkstone was without a church until very recently ; and 
for all ecclesiastical purposes the inhabitants had to resort 
to the church of Canford, five miles distant. The tithes, 
however, have been paid to the impropriate rectors of 
Poole from time immemorial, but there is no document 
extant touching the title to this impropriation. In the 
return for the church of Canford to the commission of 1650, 
the following passage occurs relative to the tithes of Park- 



' 






^**sgg 













THE NEW DISTRICT. 461 

stone and Longfleet ; — 

" And whereas there is over and above the above said, 
the tythes of Parkson and Longfleete, being- within this 
parish of Great Canford, which said tythe is paid to Poole, 
in what right we know not, to the value of twenty pounds 
per annum or upwards ; and we do desire that it may be 
paid to our own minister, being in our own parish." 

It was asserted in a case drawn for the opinion of 
counsel for an appeal by the inhabitants of Parkstone, 
against the payment of church rates to Kinson, tLat Park- 
stone was said in the records of Poole to be formerly the 
out-parish of the town, and that the inhabitants paid church 
rates to that parish : but there appear to be no existing- 
records of the town to warrant such an assertion ; which 
probably originated in a vague memorandum that vet 
exists in the handwriting of the eccentric Richard Bramble, 
formerly town clerk of the borough, to the effect, that 
Parkstone, Longfleet, Hickford, and North Haven were 
anciently called the out parish of Poole, and within the 
liberties of the borough. The appeal spoken of above was 
heard and decided in favour of the appellants. 

The present church of Parkstone is a neat structure, 
erected in 1833. It was consecrated by the bishop of Bath 
and Wells, Dr. H. Law, who officiated for the bishop of 
Bristol, on the 26th of September, in that year. An 
ecclesiastical district has since been set apart for it, com- 
prising the whole of the hamlet of Parkstone. The rev. 
.lames Culshaw Parr, b.a. is the first and present minister. 
A Sunday school has been established in Parkstone, in 
connection with the church, and is greatly encouraged. 

The estimated annual value of real property in Parkstone, 
in the year 1815, was £729. This value must since have 
been very greatly augmented, in consequence of the extent 
to which building has been carried on, and the large tracts 
of heath land that have be n brought into cultivation. 



462 THE NEW DISTRICT. 

LONGFLEET. 

Longfleet, deriving* its name from " long" and " fleet," 
— "a place where a river or stream doth ebb and flow," — 
is a hamlet and tithing in the parish of Great Canford, 
maintaining its own poor. It adjoins the north-east 
boundary of the parish of Saint James, Poole, and is of 
considerable extent. That part of the tithing which is 
immediately contiguous to the old borough, has been much 
built upon within the last few years, by which the entrance 
of the town has been greatly improved. 

The church is a new structure, erected from funds 
contributed chiefly by the hon. W. F. S. Ponsonby, the 
parish church being at too great a distance from this hamlet 
to accommodate the inhabitants. The church was conse- 
crated and opened for divine worship, on Wednesday, 
September 25, 1833, by Dr. Law, the bishop of Bath and 
Wells, acting as commissary for the bishop of Bristol ; and 
is dedicated by the style of St. Mary, in Longfleet. The 
rev. W. B. Clarke, a.m., is the first andpresent minister. 
Subsequently to the consecration, an ecclesiastical district 
was set apart for the church, comprised within a boundary, 
" commencing at Seldown, and proceeding westward, along 
Sandy lane, to a certain spot opposite Seldown house; 
then, turning to the north, following the boundary that 
divides the tithings of Longfleet and Parkstone, passing 
the public house called the Bowling green, to Longfleet 
church, and from thence, in the same direction, to a bound- 
stone on the side of Constitution hill, where the tithings of 
Longfleet, Parkstone, and Kinson meet ; from thence in a 
north-westerly direction, following the boundary line of 
the tithings of Longfleet and Parkstone, to another boun- 
dary between the parish of Great Canford and the tithings 
of Longfleet and Kinson, near the Poole and Ringwood 
old turnpike rojad: from thence in a westerly direction, 
passing Hatch pond, to a lane leading from the Poole and 



t 



§ 



/■ u 




^l^$g 



[ ^^g^** 



C*» 




, « 



THE NEW DISTRICT. 463 

Wimborne turnpike road, near Darby's corner; from 
thence along the north side of the said lane to its western 
end; from thence in a straight line to the north-west 
corner of a close of land called Creekmoor; where it 
adjoins the boundary of the parish of Corfe Mullen; from 
thence in a southerly direction, along the boundary line 
of Corfe Mullen to Upton turnpike gate ; and from thence, 
in a straight line across the harbour, passing the town 
of Poole, on the north side thereof, to Seldown point, and 
from thence, in a northerly direction to the spot first named.' ' 

A sunday school has been established, in connection with 
the church. 

The estimated annual value of real property in the tithing 
of Longfleet in the year 1815, was £1604. The obser- 
vation in regard to this matter made relative to Parkstone, 
applies equally to the tithing of Longfleet. 




APPENDIX, 



ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE 



BOTANY 



OF 






/ 



POOLE, 



AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD ; 



BY 



THOMAS BELL SALTER, M.D.,F.L.S., 

MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGES OF SURGEONS OF LONDON AND 

EDINBURGH ; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL MEDICAL SOCIETY 

OF EDINBURGH, AND OF THE BOTANICAL SOCIETIES 

OF EDINBURGH AND LONDON. 



467 



€§e 25otanp, etc* 



It is here intended to illustrate the Botany of the 
flowering plants and ferns of the neighbourhood of Poole. 
For this purpose, it is proposed to give a succint account 
of the general aspect and nature of the district, an alpha- 
betical list of the plants contained in it, and the habitats of 
some of the rarer species. 

In describing the general aspect and nature of the locality, 
it appears necessary to give a short account of its geolo- 
gical features, but this will be done as briefly as possible. 

The district on which Poole lies, is denominated the 
Poole Trough, being a portion of the Isle of Wight basin, 
comprising a considerable part of its western extremity ; 
though not its extreme point. Its northern boundary is 
between Wimborne and Hinton Martell, beyond which the 
chalk extends over a large tract of country. The southern 
boundary is a line of chalk, passing through Purbeck from 
near Corfe Castle to Studland, and corresponding with the 
chalk stratum running through the Isle of Wight. From 
the chalk line in Purbeck, passing south, the successively 
inferior strata rapidly appear, as far as the Portland stone, 
and Kimmeridge clay beds ; the former occuring at Tillv- 
whim, and the latter near Encombe at the place whence it 
takes its name. To the west of Poole, the chalk strata, 



THE BOTANY, 



forming the northern and southern boundaries, converge, 
but do not entirely meet, until they arrive as far west as 
Dorchester, which is the extreme western point of the Isle 
of Wight basin. To the east, there is no other boundary 
than a general rise of surface ; and even this does not exist 
immediately along the coast. 

Thus, it appears that there is a large district left by the 
chalk, which, near Poole, is about fifteen miles in diame- 
ter. This is occupied by the plastic clay, the level 
of which, descending from the northern boundary- before 
named, sinks at Poole, below the level of the sea, and rises 
again on the coast of Purbeck, forming the capacious 
haven known as Poole Harbour, 

Large patches of clay and sand, as is usual in this forma- 
tion, occur throughout this district, both varying much in 
colour. There are also large beds of gravel, some of 
them very extensive. . It would be irrelevant here, to 
speak of the excellence of the clay from this trough, and 
it is too well known to render this necessary. The gravel 
is in some places extremely fine and bright, in fact, the 
best I have any where seen. 

As it is not professed here to give a lengthened geolo^ 
gical account, it is not necessary to expatiate farther on the 
subject, but to apply the remarks already made, to the 
Botany of the district."^ 

It is evident then, that there is a great diversity of soil 
in the neighbourhood of Poole, and a very rich Flora may 
naturally be anticipated : when, however, all the peculi- 
arities and modifying influences have been cited, still 
higher expectations will be raised, yet 1 feel confident that 
no one will be prepared for the very numerous catalogue, 
which this district affords; and those who have taken a 



* For a further account of the geology of this district, see an interesting series of 
lepers on " The Geology of the south-east of Dorsetshire," by my friend the 
Rev. W. B. Clarke, now in course of publication in "Loudon's Magazine of Natural 
History." 



THE BOTANY. 469 

casual glance of it, and that only, will be still more 
surprised. No strangers ever come within many miles 
of Poole, without being 1 struck with the apparent steri- 
lity of the scene. To the north of Poole as far as 
Wimborne and extending east and west to Christchurch 
and Wareham, dry heath land is the prevailing feature 
of the country. This is the general character also of the 
plastic clay portion of Purbeck. But to proceed to par- 
ticulars : — 

Poole is situated on a peninsula on the north side of the 
extensive harbour, and is very little above its level. I 
leave, however, the remarks I intend to make on the mari- 
time botany of Poole, to a future period. 

On quitting Poole in every direction there is an elevation 
of surface, which, however, is not considerable. The 
lower situations are generally dry pasture, but the higher 
are the heath lands before named. Both are cultivated, 
but the soil is not very productive except as garden 
ground. There is no river or stream of any importance 
within about five miles of Poole. In many places, how- 
ever, there are superficial springs; these are so highly 
ferruginous as to stain every thing they come in contact 
with, and deposit a considerable quantity of red peroxide 
of iron on the vegetables about them. Indeed the springs 
in general in the villages around Poole, are so strongly 
chalybeate as to be extremely unpalatable, The water 
from these springs, in many places, is interrupted in its 
course by the hills of gravel before alluded to, or by the 
beds of clay, giving rise, in some parts to pseudo-meadow 
land, as in different parts of Parkstone and Longfleet. 

These situations yield many of the meadow plants, but 
for most of them it is necessary to resort to the genuine mea- 
dows a little farther distant. Some of the rarer plants, 
however, are found in land of this description, as for 
example, the Bartsia viscosa, Lin., which with us is quite a 
common plant. An abundance of oak trees, growing 



470 THE BOTANY. 

perfectly spontaneously, add greatly to the beauty of these 
fertile tracts. Though there are no rivers very near Poole, 
there are at about two miles distant occasional small 
streams and two ponds or tarns, one at Parkstone, and 
the other at Creekmoor, the latter containing abundance of 
the beautiful white water lily. In all these situations the 
Scutellaria minor, Lin., abounds. 

But meadow land is not so general a result of our 
springs as bogs, of which we have an immense extent, and 
all the varieties denominated moist heaths, turfy bogs, 
spongy bogs, &c, and in many parts there are large tracts 
of peat as perfect as I have seen in Scotland or Ireland. 
Between the roads to Longham and Christchurch, and 
within four miles of Poole, are hundreds of acres of peat ; 
one of the most remarkable instances of which is to be seen 
on the former road, about three miles and a half from 
Poole, where it passes over the small stream of Bourne. 
There is here a deep ravine about half a mile broad, in 
which lies an immense quantity of peat, containing large 
trees in a bituminous state. The peat here is fifteen feet 
deep.^ In many parts of Longfleet, Hamworthy, and Pur- 
beck, are large tracts of the same kind of soil. In all these 
situations the Rhynchospora alba, Vahl., and Rhynchos- 
pora fusca, Lin. abound, with many other of the Cyper- 
acese of which the most general is Schcenus nigricans, 
Lin. The heaths blossom freely in these districts, particu- 
larly the Erica tetralix, Lin., and the botany of them in 
general is very similar to that of the more northern regions. 
I do not mean to infer that the rarer northern plants 
are found with us, but that the bulk of vegetation in these 
situations is much the same as in similar soil, in Cumber- 
land and Scotland, as for example, the two Ericse and 
the Calluna grow in profusion, with the Melica coerulea, 
Lin., and Mvrica gale, Lin., of which there are hundreds of 



* See a notice .of a paper by Mr. Clarke, " Proceedings of Geological Society, 
vol. 2. p. yj\). 



THE BOTANY. 471 

acres in the south east of Dorsetshire. We have, however, 
in abundance in one situation, what has not been found 
in Scotland, viz. the Erica ciliaris, Lin. In a locality of the 
kind already mentioned in the Isle of Purbeck, which I visit- 
ed last August, accompanied by my friend, Dr. Macreight, I 
enjoyed the no ordinary gratification of viewing this rarest 
and most beautiful of the English heaths to great u ,,r antage. 
Throughout nearly the whole space from Arne to Corfe 
Castle, a distance of fully four miles, we found it in profu- 
sion. Heath was the prevailing vegetation throughout the 
whole extent, and this the dominant species. Growing in 
its native bogs it is certainly not inferior to a Menziesia of 
which it has much the general habit. It is taller and more 
shrubby than the other British species of Erica. 

Many parts of the more superficial bogs are adorned 
with the splendid flowers of Gentiana pneumonanthe, Lin., 
as well as with the three Drosera? and Anagallis tenella, 
Lin., all of which, together with Pinguicula lusitanica, 
Lin., Exacum filiforme, Sm., and both varieties of Scirpus 
Savii, Spreng., may be esteemed common plants in our 
bogs. 

The residue of the plastic clay district is, it must be 
owned, that barren heath land which gives the prevailing 
feature to the district within about six miles around Poole- 
The Agrostis setacea, Curt., is the only grass which will 
flourish on this soil during the dry season, but this is so 
abundant as to constitute, with its rigid and shining panicles, 
a striking feature in our heaths. 

Beyond this barren portion, extending in every direction 
towards the chalk, before arriving at it, the soil is a rich 
loam, and extremely fertile. The surface in these situa- 
tions is also beautifully diversified and wooded with oaks. 
Spots of this kind are found in many directions, averaging 
the distance of five miles and a half from Poole, as at Stud- 
land, Organford, Lytchett, Corfe Mullen, Sturminster 
Marshall, the neighbourhood of Wimborne, Canford, 



472 THE BOTANY. 

Longham, Cudnell, and Ensbury. These places afford 
the plants of woods, coppices and shady places ; and 
at Sturminster Marshall, Corfe Mullen, Wimborne, 
Canford, and Longham, the course of the Stour and its 
meadows yield the river and meadow plants. The soil 
covering the chalk in these fertile districts is very shallow, 
the chalk itself appearing at Lytchett and Studland, about 
six miles distant from Poole. These are its nearest points. 
At a little farther distance in either direction, chalk downs 
and consequently chalk plants become abundant. 

It remains to speak of the maritime botany of Poole. 
The harbour is a large sheet of water, which, though con- 
taining deep channels, is for the most part very shallow, 
the tide when it falls leaving immense tracts of mud which 
are covered with Zostera marina, Lin. In some situations 
where small streams empty themselves into the harbour, 
meadow land occurs, the lower parts of which are fre- 
quently covered with the tide, affording salt marshes with 
their plants. The rest of the shore of the harbour varies 
much, but in general it is muddy. There is abundance of 
Salicornia, the maritime grasses, and other maritime plants. 

A piece of land at Baiter, which is an island at high 
water, on which stands the " Powder House" is very 
interesting in its botanical productions; — its vegetation 
consisting almost entirely of Chenopodium fruticosum, 
Schrad., Atriplex portulacoides, Lin., Cochlearea danica, 
Lin., C. anglica, Lin., Statice armeria, Lin., and S. 
Limonium, Lin. The Chenopodium fruticosum is very 
ornamental, the plants being very numerous: they are 
shrubby and evergreen and somewhat resembling the 
juniper at a little distance. They average two feet in 
height and are some of them very old, having very hard 
wood, about two inches in diameter near the root. 

Poole harbour contains several islands, all of the plastic 
clay formation, which, though picturesque, and beautifully 
situated, afford little variety of indigenous species. The 



OF POOLE. 473 

largest of these is Brownsea island, the watering residence 
of Sir Charles Chad, bart., which, among many other 
natural^beauties, possesses several fresh water tarns, similar 
to those of Parkstone and Creekmoor, one of which 
contains a great abundance of the Typha angustifolia, Lin* 
The woods in Brownsea abound with Listera ovata, Br. 

The mouth of the harbour is about four miles from Poole, 
and is composed of two valvate sand banks; the external 
one, the South Haven bank, is connected with Purbeck, and 
the other, the North Haven, with the main land of Dorset- 
shire and Hampshire. These banks are maintained by the 
creeping roots of Ammophila arundinacea, Host., Carex 
arenaria, Lin., and Festuca rubra, Lin. The beach on 
both havens, is fine hard sand, and from the North Haven 
continues so to the east, but from the South Haven point 
following the coast, the chalk and succeeding inferior strata 
make their appearance, and the beach is soon lost in the 
steep and high cliffs, which characterize the coast of Pur- 
beck. Before, however, the beach is lost, it becomes 
changed from sandy to pebbly, which is its character in 
Studland bay. 

There is a striking difference between the botany of the 
harbour, and that of the open sea beach : — the same plants 
are rarely met with in the two situations : Juncus mari- 
timus, Sm., and Carex extensa, Good., are remarkable 
exceptions. Atriplex patula is found both on the muddy 
shore of the harbour, and on the sandy beach of the open 
sea ; but the varieties are remarkably different. 

The Ballast quay at Ham, opposite Poole, frequently 
yields plants, not elsewhere found in the neighbourhood. 
Lin urn usitatissimum, Lin., Sinapis tenuifoiia, Br., S. 
muralis, Br. Cynosurus echinatus. Lin., and Medicago 
denticulata, JVilld., are the principal. Trifolium resupi- 
natum, Lin., found near this quay, must, I fear, be attri- 
buted to the ballast 

3 P 



474 THE BOTANY 

From the above remarks it is evident that the variety of 
soil is very great for so limited a space. A rich Flora is the 
natural result, 

I have already transgressed my intended limits, but I 
must yet make a few observations in reference to the effects 
of climate on the vegetation of this district. Poole, being 
low, nearly surrounded by water, and encompassed by hills 
beyond, is remarkably warm ; the soil, in general declines 
to the south, and from its sandy nature, except in particular 
spots, becomes very dry in the summer : this circumstance 
is increased by the great deficiency of partial summer rains, 
they being- attracted by the high chalk range, which so 
nearly surrounds us. From these causes, vegetation is 
pretty much suspended during the hot weather, except 
in the bogs and meadows. 

When, however, in the autumn, the rain becomes more 
general, the warm situation and aspect of the soil have a 
far different effect. After the suspension of vegetation, 
when heat and moisture are again enabled to exert their 
united influence, the herbaceous plants shoot forth and 
blossom almost as in spring.^ The heaths also have a 
second flowering far more luxuriant than the first, there 
being often spikes of Calluna vulgaris, Salisb., from six to 
nine inches in length. At this season, too, even the most 
barren of the heath lands show their beauty, and the 
surface which had appeared sterile and unattractive, 
through the period of the year generally deemed the most 
lovely, now suddenly assumes the most vivid colours : — 
the bright orange yellow of the dwarf furze, the rich 
purple of the heath and the vivid green of the broad blades 
of Melica coerulea, Lin., existing in varied proportions, 
give to the surface a splendour of colouring scarcely 
to be conceived of by those who have not witnessed it. 
The large furze, Ulex europaeus, Lin., has generally a 



* I commented forming an herbarium at the beginning of July, and was able 
before the winter, to collect most of the herbaceous spring plants, 



OF POOLE. 475 

second flowering at this season, and during* many winters 
continues in blossom pretty freely, until the more abundant 
flowering* in the spring, when it is the great ornament of 
our hills and hedges, and produces a general fragrance 
every where. Many other plants continue to flower 
through the whole autumn, and during the early winter 
months. There are generally violets during the Christmas 
week and on New Year's day, and many exotics are fre- 
quently tempted to blossom, at this season, as the Persian 
Lilac, Syringa persica, Lin., and the Laburnum, Cytisus 
laburnum, Lin.: Myrtles and Pomegranates also stand the 
winter in the open ground. Indeed the whole winter here is 
remarkably mild. There is comparatively little snow in the 
immediate neighbourhood of Poole, rain frequently falling 
here, whilst there is snow at only a few miles distanced. 

With regard to the botany of Poole, in relation to the 
tables of Mr. Watson, it may be observed, that in the 
immediate neighbourhood it is rather British, than exclu- 
sively English ; and rather a larger proportion of western 
plants occurs than might be expected. The existence, (on 
a sandy portion of the beach at Studland,) of the Cynodon 
Dactylon, Pers., hitherto found only on the coast of Corn- 
wall, is an interesting fact. 

The subjoined list is similarly marked to that published 
by the Botanical Society of Edinburgh ; for considering it 
desirable that some general standard should be made use 
of in undertakings of this sort, I have adopted this, and 
recommend the same practice in other localities. I have, 
however, added similar marks after the names, indicative of 
a shorter distance-f-, and have chosen that of eight miles as 



* To the mild climate of Poole is to be ascribed its peculiar salubrity, though 
doubtless also much is due to the cleanliness of the inhabitants. "We are subject to 
no endemic disorder, and epidemics are never so severe in this as in most places. 
This was strikingly the fact with the influenza, which, though here as every where 
else very general, was in no instance fatal. Poole, though lying low and thickly 
populated, is very little subject to typhus or intermittent fevers. 

t The Society's list is marked in reference to a distance of 16 miles from Edinburgh, 



47G THE BOTANY 

one not too extensive, but which, nevertheless, contains 
nearly every variety of soil and surface, that can be found 
in a much larger circuit. Some plants are marked as more 
common within the smaller distance than in the larger. As 
the larger district contains the smaller, it is obvious that the 
numerical number of specimens cannot be less, but must be 
more, unless the species be entirely confined to the smaller 
circuit. The proportional frequency, however, may be 
greater within the smaller distance, and, therefore, so 
marking* the species does net involve a contradiction as 
might at first sight appear. 

I have in all cases, for the sake of more easy reference, 
adopted the same generic names as those of the Edinburgh 
list, without regard to any difference of my own opinion, 
I have not however observed this rule with respect to 
species and varieties, with regard to which 1 have used my 
own judgment. 



OF POOLE. 



477 



ALPHABETICAL LIST 

OF THE PLANTS OF POOLE, &c. 

EXPLANATION OF THE MARKS. 



The marks prefixed to the names refer to a circuit of 16 miles round 
Poole; those after the names, to one of eight miles. ** signifies very common ; 
* less common, but of frequent occurrence ; § abundant in one or two 
localities ; -frare ; ? doubtful native ; X certainly introduced. Plants 
marked |J are beyond the distance specified, (\Q miles) but within 30 miles 
of Poole, and IF signifies that the mark given with regard to the circuit 
of 16 miles, is solely in consequence of a station or stations w-ithin the eight 
miles. The figures affixed to some of the rarer plants, refer to their 
localities, which are subjoined at the end of the catalogue. 



LIST, &c. 



Acer, L 

* *campestre, L. * * 

?*Pseudo-platanus, L 
Achillea, L. 

**Millefolium, L.** 

*Ptarmica, L* 
Acixoe, Moench. 

fvulgaris, Pcrs. 
Acorus, L. 

f Calamus, L. 1 
Adonis, L. 

*autumnalis, L.f 
Adoxa, L. 

*moschatclliua, L.* 
iEooroDiUM, L. 

f Podagraria, L, 



jEthusa, L. 

**Cynapium L.** 
?*Agrimonia, I/. 

**Eupatoria, L.* 
Agrostemma, L. 

*Githago, L. * 
Agrostis, L. 

**alba, L.** 

*canina, L.* 

*setacea, Curt.** 

**vulgaris, With.** 

AlRA, L. 

**ca?spitosa, L.** 
fcanesccns, L.f IF 
**caryophyllea, L.** 
fcristata, L.f 2 



A IRA, L. 

fflexuosa, L.f 
**prsecox,L.** 

Ajuga, L. 
**reptans, L.** 

Alchemilla, L. 
*arvensis Sm.** 
fvulgaris, L.f 

Alisma, L. 
*Plantago, L.* 
franunculoides, I 

Allium L. 
Ijfarenarium, L. 
*ursinum, L.f 
**vmcale, L.** 



478 



THE BOTANY 



Alnus, Tourn. 

*glutinosa, Gaert.* 

Alpecurus, L. 

**agrestis, L.* 

§bulbosus, L. §H 3 

**geniculatus, L.** 

♦♦pratensis** 
Althjea, L. 

f officinalis, L. 4. 
Amaranthus, L. 

HtBlitum, L. 
Ammophila, Host. 

*arundinacea, Host.* 
Anagallis, L. 

♦♦arvensis, L.** 
f$. ccerulea, Schr.§ 

♦tenella, L.** 
Anchusa, L. 

?fsempervirens, L. 
Anemone, L. 

**nemorosa, L.** 
Angelica, L. 

*sylvestris, L.* 
Anthemis, L. 

♦arvensis, L.* 

*Cotula s L.* 

♦nobilis, L.* 
Anthoxanthum, L. 

**odoratum,** 
Anthriscus, Pers. 

**sylvestris, Koch** 

**vulgaris, Pers.** 
Anthyllis, L. 

♦vulneraria, L.* 
Antirrhinum, L. 

?*majus, L.?* 

*Orontium, L.** 
Apargia, Schreb. 

♦autumnalis, Willd. ♦= 

♦♦hispida, Willd.* 
Apium, L. 

♦graveolens, L.* 
Aquilegia, L. 

Jf vulgaris, L.Jf 
Arabis, L. 

fhirsuta, Br.f5 
Arctium, L. 

♦Lappa, L.** 

*fi.Bardana, Willd.* 
Arenaria, L. 

**marina, CEd.** 

*peploides, L.** 

* rubra, L.* 

♦♦serpyllifolia, L.** 

f tenuifolia, L. 6 

*trinervis, L.* 

Ilfverna 



ARRHENATHERUM,BeaUV. BaRTSIA, L. 



**avenaceaum, Beauv.* 

♦bulbosum, Dumort.** 

Artemisia, L. 

f Absinthium, L.f 

Ufmaritima, L. 

** vulgaris, L.** 
Arum, L. 

♦♦maculatum, L.** 
Arundo, L. 

**Phragmites, L.** 
Asparagus, L. 

f officinalis,! 7 
Asperugo, L. 

fprocumbens, L. 
Aperula, L. 

*Cynanchica, L.f 

**odorata, L.* 
Aspidium, Sw. 

faculeatum, Sw.f 

**angulare, Willd.* 
f/8. lonchitidoides,f 8 

**Filix-mas, Sw.** 

§Oreopteris, Sw. §11 9 

fspinulosum, Willd. f 



♦♦Odontites, Huds.f 

tviscosa, L.* 
Bellis, L. 

**perennis, L.** 
Berberis, L. 

Pfvulgaris, L. 
Berteroa, D.C. 

incana, D.C. 14 
Beta, L. 

*maritima, L.* 
Betonica, L. 

♦♦officinalis, L.** 
Betula, L. 

♦alba, L.* 
Bidens, L. 

♦cernua, L.f 

♦tripartita, L.* 
Blechnum, L. 

♦boreale, Sw.** 

BoRAGO,, L. 

Jf officinalis, L.Jt 
Botrychium, Sw. 

||f Lunaria, Sw. 
Brachypooium, Beauv. 



**$.dilatatum, Willd.** §pinnatum, Beauv. § 15 



Asplenium, L. 

♦Adiantum-nigrum, L.* 

♦Felix -fo3mina,Bernh.** 

fmarinum, L. 10 

*Ruta-muraria, L.* 

*Trichomanes, L.* 
Aster, L. 

§Tripolium, L.* 
Astragalus, L. 

ilfglycyphyllus, L. 

Hfhypoglottis, L. 
Atriplex, L. 

*angustiiblia, Sm.* 

IJferecta, Huds. 11 

§laciniata, L.§ 12 

♦littoralis, L.* 

**patula, L.** 

§portulacoides, L.§U 
Atropa, L. 

?f Belladonna, L. 
A vena, L. 

||§fatua, L. 13 

* *flavescens, L.** 

fpratensis, L. 

fpubescens, L.f 
Ballota, L. 

**nigra, L.** 
Barbarea, Br. 

♦♦vulgaris, Br.** 



**sylvaticmn, Beauv.* 
Brassica, L. 

♦♦campe&tris, L.** 

♦♦Napus, L.** 

♦oleracea, L.* 16 

+*Rapa, L4* 
Briza, L. 

«*media. L.** 

f minor, L.* 
Bromus, L. 

♦♦asper, L.* 

ferectus, Huds. 

fgiganteus, Vill.f 

♦♦mollis, L.** 

§racemosus, L.§ 

fsecalinus, L.f 

**sterilis, L.** 

f velutinus, Sclir. fU 
Bryonia, L. 

♦dioica, J acq.* 
Bunium, Koch. 

**flexuosum, With.* 
Bupleurum, L. 

frotundifolium, L. 17 

Hftenuissimum, LI 8 
Butomus, L. 

§umbellatus L.§ 
Buxus, L. 

Ifsempervirens, L,jf 



OF POOLE, 



479 



Cakile, Gsert. 

*maratima, Willd.* 
Calamagrostis, Adans. 

UyEpigejos, Roth. 

ijflanceolata, Roth. 
Calamintha, Moench. 

*Nepeta, Pursh. 

Pfofficinalis, Moonch.Ff 
Callitriche, L. 

*auturanalis, L.* 

*verna, L.* 
Calluna,, Salisb. 

**vulgaris, Salisb.** 
Caltha, L. 

**palustris, L.** 

+(b.radicans, Forst.* 
Campanula, L. 

*glomerata, L. 

§hederacea, L. 19 

fhybrida, L. 

f patula, L.f 20 

|j if rapunculoides, L. 

**rotundifolia. L.** 

fTrachelium, L.f 
Capsella, D.C. 

**Bursa-Pastoris,D.C* 
Cardamine, L. 

famara, L. 

**hirsuta, L.** 

**pratensis, L.** 
Carduus, L. 

Ufacanthoides, L. 

*Marianus, L.* 

**nutans, L.* 

*tenuiflorus, Curt.** 
Carex, L. 

**arenaria, L.** 

fbinervis, Sm.fH 

**csespitosa, L.** 

f dioica, L. 21 

f distans, L.f If 22 

fdivisa, Huds.f 

**divulsa, Good.** 

*extensa, Good.* 

*flava, L.** 

*hirta, L.f 

fintermedia, Good.f 

*muricata, L.* 

*CEderi, Ehrh.* 

**ovalis, Good.** 

fpallescens, L. 

*paludosa, Good.* 

*panicea, L.** 

•fpaniculata, L. 23 

fpendula, Huds. 24 

*pilulifera, L.* 

**prsecox, Jacq.** 



Carex, L. 

f Pseudo-Cypems, L. 
fpulicaris, L.flf 
**recurva, Huds.** 
*remota, L.* 
*riparia, Curt.* 
*stellulata, Good.** 
fstricta, Good.f 
fsylvatica, Huds.f 



Chlora, L. 

*perfoliata, L.f 
Chrysanthemum, L. 

*Leucauthemum, L.* 

*segetura, L.** 
Chrysocoma, L. 

||?f Linosyris, L. 
Chrysoplenium, L. 

falternifolium, L. 31- 



§teretiuscula, Good.§U 25 foppositefolium, L. 32 



§vesicaria, L. 

**vulpina, L.** 
Carlina, L. 

*vulgaris, L.* 
Carpinus, L. 

PfBetulus, L.?f 
Castanea, Tourn. 

Xt vulgaris, Lam.Jf 
Catabrosa, Beauv. 

*aquatica, Beauv.* 
Caucalis, L. 

?$daucoides, L.?§1[ 26 
Centaurea, L. 

**Cyanus, L.* 

*Jacea, L. * 
* **nigra, L.** 

*Seabiosa, L.f 

llfsolstitialis, L. 
Centunculus, L. 

fminimus, L.f If 27 
Cerastium, L. 

*aquatieum, L.* 

jifarvense, L. 

*tetrandrum, Curt.** 

**viscosum, L. ** 

*vulgatum, L.* 
Ch.erophyllum, L. 

*temulentum, L.* 
Cheiranthus, L. 

*Cheiri, L.* 
Cheledonium,L. 

*majus, L.* 
Chenopodium, L. 

**album, L.** 

*Bonus- Henri cus, L.* 

Ilfbotryoides, Sm. 

*filicifolium, L.* 

^fruticosum, Schrad.§1f 

glaucum, L. 28 

Shybridum, L.§ 29 

*maritimum, L.** 

*murale, L.** 

§olidum, L.§fl 30 

fpolyspermum, L. 

IJfrubrum 

furbicum, L.f 



Cichorium, L. 

♦Intybus, L.* 
Cinenaria, L. 

fcampestris, Retz. 
Circlea, L. 

*Lutetiana, L.* 
Cistopteris, Bernh. 

ffragilis, Bernh. 33 
Cladium, Schrad. 

UfMariscus, Br. 
Clematis, L. 

*Vitalba, L.f 
Clinopodium, L. 

**vulgare, L.* 
Cnicus, L. 

**acaulis, Willd.* 

*arvensis, Hoff,* 

Hferiophorus, Willd. 

**lanceolatus, Willd.** 

**palustris, Willd.** 

§pratensis, Willd. § 34 

Hftuberosus, Willd. 
Cochlearia, L. 

**anglica, L.** 

Xf Armoracea, L. Jf 

*danica, L.** 

Hfgroenlandica, L. 

*officenalis, L.* 
Colchicum, L. 

fautumnale, L. 35. 
Com arum, L. 

§palustre, L.§ 
Conium, L. 

*maculatum, L.* 
Convallaria, L. 

Pfmajalis, L.?f 

Ufmulliflora, L. 

||f Polygonatum, L. 
Convolvulus, L. 

**arvensis, L.** 

**sepium, L.** 

§Soldanella, L.§ 36 

CONYZA, L. 

fsquarrosa, L.f 37 
Cornus, L. 
**sanguinea, L.* 



480 



THE BOTANY 



Coronopus, Gsert 
y didyma, Sm.§H 38 
*Ruellii, Sm.** 

CorydAlis, D.C. 
fclaviculata, D.C. 

CORYLUS, L. 

**Avellana, L.* 
Cotyledon, L. 

*Umbelicus, Huds.** 
Crambe. 

fmaratima, L. 
Crataegus, L. 

**Oxyacantha, L.*** 
Crepis, L. 

*biennis, L.* 

**tectorum, L.** 
Crithmum, L. 

*maritimum, L.* 
Crocus, L. 

Jf vermis, L.jf 
Cuscuta, L. 

*epithymum, L.** 

feuropaea, L. 
Cynodon, Rich. 

fDactylon, Pers.fU 
Cynoglossum, L. 

♦officinale, L.f 
Cynosurus, L. 

**cristatus, L.** 

?§echinatus, L.?§U 
Cyperus, L. 

flongus, L. 
Cytisus, L. 

**Scoparius, D.C.** 
Dacylis, L. 

**glomcrata,L. ** 
Daphne L. 

fLaurcola, L.f 

f Mezerram, L. 39 
Datura, L. 

If Stramonium, J f 
Daucus, L. 

**Carota, L.** 

fmaritimus, With.f 
Delphinium, L. 

tfConsolida, L.Jf 

DlANTHUS, L. 

f Armeria, L.f 

DlGlLATIS, L. 

**purpurea, L.** 
Diotis, Desf. 

jlfmaritima, Cass. 
Ditsacus, L. 

;fFullonum,|t 

1 pilosns, L. 40 

**sylYCStris, L.** 



DoRONICUM, L. 

Ilfplantagineum, L. 41 
Draba, L. 

**verna, L.** 
Drosera, L. 

*anglica, Huds.** 
♦longifolia, L.** 
*rotundifolia, L.** 

Echinophora, L. 
Hfspinosa, L. 

Echium, L. 
*vulgare, L.* 

Eleociiaris, Br. 
♦csespitosa, Linck.* 
*fluitans, Hook.** 
§multicaulis, Sm.§U 42 
**palustrus, Br.** 
Htpauciflora, Link. 

Elymus, L. 
farenarius, L. 

Epilobium, L. 
||?fangustifolium, L. 
*"hirsutum, L.* 
**montanum, L,** 

**palustre, L.«* 
*parviflorum, Schreb.* 
Ufroseum, Schreb. 43 
*tetragonum, L.* 

Epipactis. Br. 
fgrandiflora, Sm. 44 
f latifolia. Sw. 45 
fpalustris, Sw. 46 

Equisetum, L. 
**arvensc, L.** 
♦fluviatile, L.* 
*limosum, L.* 
**palustre, L.** 
f#. alpinum, Hoo&.f%i7 

Erica, L. 
§ciliaris, L §*!T 
*'*cinerea. L.** 
**Tctralix, L.** 
Erigeron, L. 

facris, L.f 
Eriophorum, L. 

*angustifolium, Roth.** 
Erojdium, L'Hcrit. 

**cicutariurr, Sm.** 

maritimum, Sm. 48 

Ufmoschatum, Sm. 
Ervum, L. 

**hirsutum, L.** 

*tetraspermnm, L.* 
Eryngium, L. 

*maratimum, L.* 
Erysimum. L. 

**Alliaria, L.** 

fckeiranthoides, L. 



Erythrea, Reneal. 
*Centaureum, Pers.* 
fpulchella, Hook.f 

EUONYMUS, L. 

**europaeus. L.* 
Eupatorium, L. 
*cannabinum, L.* 
Euphorbia, L. 
**amygdaloides, L.* 
**exigua, L.* 
*helioscopia, L.** 
HlfLathyris, L. 
jjfparalia, L. 
**Peplus, L.** 
§platyphylla, L. 49 
fportlandica, L. 
Euphrasia, L. 

**officinalis, L.* 
Exacum, L. 
♦filiforme, Sm.** 
Fagus, L. 
*sylvistica, L.* 
FediA, Vahl. 
||t Auricula, Gaud. 
jlfdentata, Vahl. 
Hferiocarpa, Desv. 
*olitoria, Vahl.* 
Festuca, L. 
*bromoides, L.* 
**duriitscula, L.** 
§elatior, L.§50 
floliacea, L.f 
fMyurus, L.f 
**ovina, L.** 
ffi.vivipara, Sm.f 
♦pratensis, L.* 
*rubra, L.* 
|| funiglumis, S oland. 
Fceniculum, Hoffm. 
§vulgare, Gaert.j/f 
Fragraia, L. 
**vesca, L.** 
Fraxinus, L. 
*excelsior, L.* 
Frittillaria, L. 
||§Meleagris, L. 51 

FU MARIA, L. 

**eaprcolata, L.** 

♦♦officinalis, L.** 
*/3. media, D.C* 

fparviflora, Lam.fTI 
Gagea, Salisb. 

Hflutea, Ker. 
Galanthus, L. 

?fnivalis, L,?f 
Galeobdolon, Iluds. 

♦luteum, Huds. * 



OF POOLE. 



481 



Galeopsis, L. 

fLadairum, L.if 

**Tetrahit, L> 
Galium, L. 

**Aparine, L.** 

§cruciatum, L.§ 

f erectum, Huds.f % 52 

**Mollugo, L.* 

*palustre, L.** 
**/3. Witheringii, Sm.*' 

*sexatile, L.** 

Ilftricorne, With. 

fuliginosum, L.f 

*verum, L.** 
Gastridium, Beauv. 

Hflendigerum, Beauv. 
Genista, L. 

*anglica, L.* 

ftinctoria, L.fTI 
Gentiana, L. 

♦amarella, L.f 

fcampestris, L.f 

fPneumonanthe, L.* 
Geranium, L. 

fcolumbinum, L.f 

**dissectum, L.** 

§lucidum, L. 

**molle, L.** 

Hjfphseum, L. 

*pratense, L. 

*pusillum, L.§* 

**robertianum, L.** 
Geum, L. 

frivale, L. 

**urbanum, L.** 
Glaucium, Tourn. 

*luteum, L.* 

Htphoenicium, Geert. 
Glaux, L. 

*maritima, L.** 
Glecoma, L. 

**liederacea. L.** 
Gnaphalium, L. 

Hfdicecum, L. 

*germanicum, Huds.** 

f minimum, Sm.* 

sylvaticum, L. 
*/3. rectum, Hook. 

*uliginosum, L. 
Grammittis, Sw. 

||f Ceterach, Sw. 
Gymnadenia, Br. 

*conopsia, Br.f 
Habenaria, Br. 

tbifolia, Br.t 

fchlorantha, Hook. 53 

f viridis, Br. 



Hedera, L. 

**Helix, L.** 
Helianthemum, Tourn. 

**vulgare, Gaert.* 
Heleborus, L. 

fviridis, L.f 
Helmenthia, Jus?. 

f echiodes, Gaert f 
Hei ySCiADiUM, Koch. 
• §r undatum, Koch.§54 

* aodirlorum, Koch.* 

frepens, Koch.55f 
Heracleum, L. 

**Spondylium, L.** 
Hieracium, L. 

*murorum, L. 

**Pilosella, L.** 

fsabaudum, Sm.f56 

*sylvaticum, Sm.** 

fumbellatum, L.f 1f57 
Hippocrepis, L. 

fcomosa, L. 
Hippuris, L. 

f vulgaris, L.f 
Holcus, L. 

**lanatus, L.* 

*mollis, L.* 
Hordeum L. 

Hfmaritimum, With. 

*murinum, L.** 

**pratense, Huds.* 
Hottonia, L. 

fpalustris, L.fH58 
Humulus, L. 

**Lupulus, L.* 
Hyacinthus, L. 

**non-seriptus, L.* 
Hydrocharis, L. 

§Morsus- Ranee, L.$1T59 
Hydrocotyle, L. 

*vulgaris, L** 
Hyoscyamus, L. 

*niger, L.* 
Hypericum, L. 

f Androssemum, L.f 

Pfcalcinum, L. 

*elodes, L.* 

fhirsutum, L.f 

*humifusum, L.* 

fmontanum, L.f 60 

**perforatum, L.* * 

**pulchrum, L.** 

**quadrangulum, L.** 
Hypoch/eris, L. 

Hfmaculata, L. 

**radicata, Lv** 
Ilex, L. 

**Aquifolium, L.** 



Impatiens, L. 

?fNoli-me-tangere, L.PflT 
Inula, L. 

f Helenium, L. 61 
Iris, L. 

**foetidissima, L.* 

**Pseud-Acorus, L.** 
Jasione, L. 

*montana, L.** 
Juncus, L. 

facutiflorus, Ehrh.* 

§acutus, L. §1162 

**bufonius, L.** 

*compressus, Jacq.** 

**conglomeratus, L.** 

**effusus, L.* 

**glaucus, Sibth.* 

*lampocarpus, Ehrh.* 

**maratimus, Sm.** 

fobtusiflorus, Ehrh.f 

*squarrossus, L.** 

*uliginosus, Sibth.** 

*fi.subverticillatus, Hook* 
Jiiniperus, L. 

|| f communis, L. 
Knautia, L. 

**arvensis, Coult. * * 
Lactuca, L. 

fSaligna. L.f63 

fvirosa, L. 
Lamium, L. 

♦album, L.** 

*amplexicaule, L.** 

Hfincisum, Willd. 

**purpureum, L.** 
Lapsana, L. 

**commuuis, L.** 

fpusilla, Willd. 61 
Lathr^ea. L. 

Hfsquamaria, L. 
Latiiyrus, L. 

f Alphaca, L. 65 

||§Nissolia, L. 

Ilfpisiformis, L. 

**pratensis, L.** 

fsylvestris, L. 66 
Lavatera, L. 

||§arborea, L, 
Lemna, L. 

Hfgibba, L. 

**minor, L.** 

||§polyrhiza, L. 

ftrisulca, L. 
Leontodon, 

**Taraxicum, L.** 
*fi.palustre ) St. Amans.* 
ty.lecviffatum,St.A?n.jG7 

3 Q 



482 



THE BOTANY 



Leonurus, L. 

jfCardiaca, L. 
Lepidium, L. 

Hfcampestre, L. 

§ruderale, L.§1T 

*Smithii, Hook.** 
Leucojum, L. 

feestivum, L.f 
Ligustrum, L. 

** vulgar e, L.* 
Limbardia, Adans. 
fcrithmoides, Hook. 
Linaria, Juss. 
:]:*Cymbalaria, Mill.+* 
fElatine, Desf.f 
fminor, Desf.f 
||§repens, Ait. 
fspuria, Mill. 

ffi.pelorioides, 68 
** vulgaris, Mcench.** 
Linum, L. 

fangustifolium, Huds.f 
**catharticum, L.** 
Hfperenne, L. 
Jfusitatissimum, L.£f 
Listera, Br. 
fNidus-Avis, Hook.f69 
§ovata, Br.§ 

LlTHOSPERMUM,^L. 

*arvense, L.* 
fofficinale, L. 

LlTTORELLA, L. 

flacustris, L. 
Lolium, L. 

**perenne, L,** 

ftemulentum, L. 
Lonicera, L. 

**Periclymenum, L.** 
Lotus, L. 

**corniculatus, L.* 

**major, L.** 

*tenuis, Walld. & Kit.* 
Luzula, D.C. 

**campestris, Br.** 
*(Z.Congesta, D.C* 

||§Forsteri, D.C. 

*pilosa, Willd.§70 

*sylvatica, Bich.§71 
Lychnis, L. 

**Flos-Cuculi, L ** 
**sylvestris, Hoppe.* 
*vespertina, Sibth.** 
Lycopodium, L. 
fclavatum, L.f^F 
*inundatum, L.* 
f Selago, L.f 
Lycopsis, L. 
*arvensis, L.* 



Lycopus, L. 
*europaeus, L.* 

Lysimachia, L. 
fnemorum, L.f 

fnummularia, L.f 
* vulgaris, L.* 

Lythrum, L. 
*salacaria, L.* 

Maeva, L. 

*mosehata, L.* 

*rotundifolia, L.* 
||f/3. pusilla, Sm. 

**sylvestris, L.** 
Marrubium, L. 

fvulgare, L.f 
Matricaria, L. 

HfChamomilla, L. 
Meconopsis, Vig. 

Hifcambrica, Vig. 
Medicago, L. 

§denticulata, Willd.§1T 

ffalcata, L.f IT 

**lupulina, L.** 

*maculata, Sibth.** 

Jfsativa, L.Jf 
Melampyrum, L. 

||§arvense, L. 

Hfcristatum, L. 

*pratense, L.* 
Melica, L. 

*C03rulea, L.** 

*uniflora, L.* 
Melilotus, Tourn. 

fleucantha, Koch.f1T72 

f officinalis, L.f 
Melittis, L. 

llfMelissophyllum, L. 
Mentha, L. 
||*arvensis, L. 

♦gracilis, Sm.* 
**hirsutus, L.** 
Jfpiperata, Sm.Jf 
f Pulegium, L.7 
frotundifolia, L.?f 
fsylvestris, L.f 
Menyanthus, L. 
♦trifoliata, L.* 
Mercurialis, L. 
*annua, L.** 
**perennis, L.* 
Mespilus, L. 
||?fgermanica, L. 
Milium, L. 
*effusum, L.f 
Mcenchia, Elirli. 
**erecta, Sm.** 
Monotropa, L. 
f Hypopitys, L.73 



Montia, L. 
*fontana, L.** 
Muscari, Tourn. 

Jfracemosum, Mill. |f IT 
Myosotis, L. 
**arvensis, Hoff.* 
*csespitosa, Schul.* 
*collina, Hoff.* 
**palustris, Kiph.** 
**versicolor, Lehm.** 
Myosurus, L. 

f minimus, L.f 74 
Myrica, L. 
*Gale, L.** 
Myriophyllum, L. 
fspicatum, L.f IT 
fverticillatum, L.f 
Narcissus, L. 
**Pseudo-narcissus, L.** 
Nardus, L. 
*stricta, L.* 
Narthecium, Huds. 
*ossifragum, Huds.** 
Nasturtium, Br. 
♦•officinale, Br.** 
fsylvestre, Br. 75 
f terrestre, Br. 
Neottia, Jacq. 
^spiralis, Rich. §517 6 
Nepeta, L. 
fCataria, L. 
Nuphar, Sm. 
*lutea, Sm.* 
fpumila, D.C. 77 
Nymph^ea, L. 

*alba, L.* 
CEnanthe, L. 
*crocata, L.** 
ffistulosa, L. 
fpeucidanifolia, Poll, 
f Phellandrium, Spreng§78 
*pimpinelloides, L.** 

OENOTHERA, L. 

|f biennis, L.Jf 
Onobrychis, Tourn. 
Jfsativa, Lam. 
Ononis, L. 
*arvensis, L.* 
ffi.spinosa, L.f 
Onopordum, L. 
§Acanthium, L.§ 
Ophroglossum, L. 
§vulgatum, L. 
Ophrys, L. 
fapifera, Huds. f 79 
||f arachnites, Willd. 
Hfmuscifera, Huds, 



OF POOLE. 



483 



Orchis, L. 

*latifolia,L.** 

*maculata, L.* 

**mascula, L** 

*Morio, L.** 

fpyramidalis, L.f 

fustulata, L.SO 
Origanum, L. 

*vulgare, L.f 
Ornithogalum, L. 

HTpvrenaicum, L. 

§umbollatum, L.§H81 
Ornithopus, L. 

*perpusillus, L.* 
Orobanche, L. 

§elatior, Sut. 

f major, L.f 

fniinor, Sm.f 
Orobus, L. 

**tuberosus, L.* 

OSMUNDA, L. 

*regalis, L.** 
Oxalis, L. 

**Acetosella, L.* 

?§corniculata, L.?§1I 
Papa\er, L. 

f Argemone, L.§ 

fdubium, L.f 

flrybridum, L.f 

**Rh8eas, L.** 
Parietaria, L. 

♦officinalis, L.* 
Paris, L. 

fquadrifolia, L.82 
Park ass i a, L. 

fpalustris, L.f 83 
Pastinaca, L. 

**sativa, L.* 
Pedicularis, L. 

*palustris, L.f 

♦sylvatica, L.** 
Petlis, L. 

*Portula, L.** 
Petasites, Desf. 

^vulgaris, Desf. 
Petroselinum, Hoffm. 

Xf sativum, Koch.j/f 

fsegetum, Koch. 
Phalaris, L. 

**arundinacea, L.* 

Jfcanariensis, L.jf 
Phleum, L. 

j|§arenareum, L. 

**pratense, L.* 
Picris, L. 

fhieracioides, L.f 



Pilularia, L. 
fglobulifera, L.ffl 

PlMPINELLA, L. 

f magna, L. 
**Saxifraga, L.* 

PlNGUICULA, L. 

*lusitanica, L.** 
f vulgaris, L.f 84 

Pinus, L. 
+**sylvestris, L.£** 

Plantago, L. 
*Coronopus, L.** 
**lanceolata, L.** 
**major, L.** 
*maritima, L.* 
**media, L.* 

Poa, L. 
**annua, L.** 
§aquatica, L.§ 
ll^compressa, L. 
Tdistans, L.fH85 
**fluitans, Scop.** 
fmaritima, Huds.f 
fnemoralis, L. 
**pratensis, L.** 
§procumbens, Curt.§ 
frigida, L.f 
**trivialis, L.** 

POLYCRAPON, L. 

Ijftetraphyllum, L. 

PoLYGALA, L. 

**vulgaris, L.** 
Ufamara, Don. 
Polygonum, L. 
*amphibium, L.* 
*fi.terrestre, Hook.* 
**aviculare, L.** 
fBislorta, L.f 
*Convolvulus, L.** 
JfFagopyrum, L.Jf 
*Hydropiper, L.** 
**lapathifolium, L.** 
Hfmaritimum, L. 
fminus, Huds.fH 
**Persicaria, L.** 
||§Robertii, Lois. 

POLYPODIUM, L. 

**vulgare, L.** 
Polypogon, L. 

flittoralis, Sm.fTT 
Populus, L. 

§alba, L.§ 

Pfcanescens, Sm.?f 
f nigra, L.f 

jftremula, L.ff 

POTAMOGETON, L. 

|jfcrispus ? L. 



POTAMOGETON, L. 

*grammeus, L.j 
*heterophyllus, Schreb.' 
*lucens, L.* 
**natans, L.* 
fpectinatus, L. 
*perfoliatus, L.* 
fpusillus, L. 
fzosterifolius, Schum. 

PoTENTILLA, L. 

**anserina, L. * * 
*argentea, L.* 
**Fragaria, Poir.** 
**reptans, L.** 

POTERIUM, L. 

**sanguisorba, L.* 
Prenanthes, L, 

fmuralis, L.f 
Primula, L. 

**veris, L.** 
*fi.elatior, L.f 
**y. acaulis, £.** 
Prunella, L. 

**vulgaris 3 L.** 
Prunus, L. 

?*Cerasus, L.?* 

Jfdomestica, L.jf 

*insititia, L.* 

**spinosa, L.** 
Pteris, L. 

**aquilina, L.** 
Pulicaria, Geert. 

**dysenterica, Cass.* 

♦vulgaris, Gsert.f 

PULMONARIA, L. 

Ufangustifolia, L.86 

||§officinalis, L.87 

||?fvirginica, Willd.88 
Pyrethrum, Hall. 

*inodorum, Sra.** 

fmaritimum, Sm.f 

*Parthenium, Sm.* 
Pyrus. L. 

f Aria, Sm.f89 

tfaucuparia, Gaert.jf 

|j§domestica, Sm. 

fMabas, L.f 

ftorminalis, Sm.fOO 
Quercus, L. 

*Robur, L.** 

Hfsessiliflora, Salisb. 
Radiola, Gmel. 

*millegrana, Sm.** 
Ranunculus, L. 

**acris, L.** 

**aquatilis, L.* 
Ufarvensis, L. 



484 



THE BOTANY 



Ranunculus, L. 
fauricomus, L.f9l 
**bulbosus, L.** 
**Ficaria, L.** 
**Flammula, L.** 
**fi. reptans, Sm.** 
*hederaceus, L.** 
fhirsutus, Curt.* 
f Lingua, L.f 
*parviflorus, L.§ 
** rep ens, L.** 
*sceleratus, L.** 

Raphanus, L. 
*Raphanistrum, L.* 

Reseda, L. 
Jfalba, Willd.JfIT 
*lutea, L.f 
*Luteola, L.* 

Rhamnus, L. 
*catharticus, L. 
*Frangula, L.* 

Rhinanthus, L. 
**Crista-Galli, L.* 

Rhtnchospora, Vahl. 
*alba, Vahl.** 
ffusca, Sm.* 

Ribes, L. 
* Grossularia, L.* 
fpetramm, Wulf.M!92 
**rubrum, L.* 

Rosa, L. 
**arvensis, L.* 
**canina, L.** 



Rubus, L. Sambucus, 

**rhamnifolius,W.&N.** *nigra, L. 



*rudis, W. & N.**1T 

** vulgaris, W. & N.* 
Rumex, L. 

**acetosa, L.* 

*Acetosella, L.** 

*acutus, L.* 

**crispus, L.** 

*Hydrolapathum, Huds. 

fmaritimus, L.f IT 

**obtusifolius, L.** 

*pulcher, L.* 

^sanguineus, L.* 

**fi.viridis, Hook.* 
Ruppia, L. 

*maritima, L.** 
Ruscus, L. 

*aculeatus, L.§ 
Sagina, L. 

*apetala, L.* 

*maritima, Don.* 

**procumbens, L.** 
Sagittaria, L. 

**sagittifolia, L.* 
Salicornia, L. 

**herbacea, L.** 



Samolus, L. 

fValerandi, L.* 
Sanguisorba, L. 

fofficinalis, L. 98 
Sanicula, L. 

**europaea, L.* 
Saponaria, L. 
* If officinalis, L.ff 
Saxifraga, L. 

*granulata, L.f 

||?fhypnoi'des, L. 

*tridactylites, L.* 
Scabiosa, L. 

*columbaria, L.f 

**succisa, L.** 

SCANDIX, L. 

**Pecten-Veneris, L.* 

SCHCENUS, L. 

*nigricans, L.** 

Scilla, L. 
Hfverna, Huds. 

Scirpus, L. 
*lacustris, L.* 
§fi. glaucus, Hook.§ 
*maritimus, L.** 



** 



Salix, L. 

**acuminata, Sm.* 
*alba, L.* 
l.sarmentacea, Hook** *amygdalina, L.f97 

Sm.** 



**$.procumbens,Hook** *Savii, Spreng.* 
fradicans, Sm.f *j&.monastachys,Hook.** 

ffi.fncticosa, Hook.f *f[96 *setaceus, L.* 



*collina, Woods.* 
fmicrantha, Sm.f 
Pfrubiginosa, L.?f 
*spinossima, L.** 
Hftomentosa, Sm. 

ROTTBOLLIA, L. 

||§incurvata, L. 
W^fi.filiformis, Roth. 
Rubia, L. 

fperegrina, L. 
Rubus, L. 

*affinis, W. & N.* 

*caesius, L.* 

**cordifolius, W. & N.** 

*discolor, W. & N.* 

*dumetorum, W. & N.* 

fcchinatus, Lindl.f93 

*fastigiatus, W. &N.* 

**fruticosus, L..** 

§fusco-ater, W.& N.§U94 Salvia, L. 

fidscus, L.f *verbenaca, L.f 

§leucostachyg, Sm.§H95 Sambucus, L. 

*plicatus, W. & N.** HfEbulns, L. 



**aquatica, 

faurita, L. 

**caprsea, L.** 
fcinerea, L.f 
fdecipiens, Hoffm.f 
*fragilis, L.* 
*fusca, L.* 

**$.repens, Borr.** 
fHelix, L. 
fincubacea,f1T 
||§Lambertiana, Sm. 
Hfrosmarinifolia, L. 
Hfrubra, Huds. 
?fRusselliana, Sm.?f 
Hftriandra, L. 
Jfviminalis, L.* 
||f*vitellina, L. 
Salsola, L. 
*Kali. L.* 



fsylvaticus, L. 

SCHLERANTHUS, L. 

*annuus, L.** 

SCHOLOPENDRIUM, Sm. 

**vulgare, Sym.* 

SCROPHULARIA, L. 

*aquatica, L.** 

**nodosa, L.* 
Scutellaria, L. 

fgalericulata, L.f 

f minor, L.* 
Sedum, L. 

*acre, L.f 

|| f album, L. 

*anglicum, Huds.** 

§reflexum, L.§TO9 

llfrupcstre, L. 

Ijfsexangulare, L. 

JfTelephium, L.Jf 
Sempervivum, L. 

Jftectorum, L4f 
Senecio, L. 

**aquaticus, Huds.* 

**Jacob3ea, L.** 

*sylvaticus, L.** 
*/3. liviclus, L* 

**tenuifolius, Jacq_.* 



Oj^ POOLE. 



485 



Senecio, L. 

fviscosus, L* 

**yulgaris, L ** 
Serratula, L. 

♦tinctoria, L.* 
Sherardia, L. 

*arvensis, L.* 
Silaus, Bess. 

*pratensis, Bess.f 
Sil^ne, L. 

*anglica, L.** 

**inflata, Sm.** 

♦maratima, With.* 

SlNAPIS, L. 

♦alba, L.* 

**arvensis, L.** 

§muralis, Br.§U 

♦nigra, L.§ 

§tenuifolia, Er.§1T 
Sison, L. 

**Amomura, L.* 
Sisymbrium, L. 

**officinalc, L.** 

§Sophia, L.§1T100 

♦thalianum, Hook.* 
Sium, L. 

**angustifolium, L.* 

flatifolium, L. 
Smyrnium, L. 

fOlusatrum, L.f 
Solanum, L. 

**Dulcamara, L.* 

*nigrum, L.** 
Solidago, L. 

*Virgaurea, L.** 
Sonchus, L. 

**arvensis, L.* 

**oleraceus, L** 
*$.asper, D.C.* 

fpalustris, L.f 
Sparganium, L. 

fnatans, L.flllOl 

♦ramosum, Huds.* 

§simplex, Huds. § 
Spartina, Willd. 

||§alternifolia, Lois. 102 

||§stricta, Sm. 
Spergula, L. 

**arvensis, L.** 
*fi.pentandra, Lindl* 

*nodosa, L.* 

♦subulata, Sw.* 
Spir^a, L. 

fFilipendula, L.f 

?fsalicifolia, L.?f 

**Ulmaria, L.** 



Stachys, L. 

*arvensis, L.** 

♦♦palustris, L.** 

**sylvatica, L.* 
Statice, L. 

♦Armeria, L.** 

*Limonium, L.** 

Ufspathulata, Desf. 
Stellaria, L. 

§glauca, With. 103 

*graminea, L.** 

**hoIostea, L.** 

'♦♦media, With.** 

♦uliginosa, Murr.** 
Symphytum, L. 

**officinale, L.** 
Tamarix, L. 

||?fgallica, L. 
Tamus, L. 

*communis, L.* 
Tanacetum, L. 

Pfvulgare, L.?f 
Taxus, L. 

Hfbaccata, L. 
Teucrium, L. 

||f Chamaedrys, L. 

♦Scorodonia, L.** 
Thalictrum, L. 

♦flavum, L.* 
Thesium, L. 

♦linophyllum, L. 
Thlaspi, L. 

f arvense, L.flf 
Thrincia, Roth. 

**hirta, Roth.** 
Thymus, L. 

**Serpyllum, L.** 
Tilia, L. 

^♦europsea, L.J* 

TlLL^EA, L. 

*muscosa, L.** 
Torilis, Adans. 
**Anthriscus, Gsert.** 
*infesta, Spreng,* 
♦nodosa, Ga3rt.§ 

ToRMENTILLA, L. 

♦♦officinalis, L.** 
*reptans, L.* 

Tragopogon, L. 
Htporrifolius, L, 
fpratensis, L. 

Trifolium, L. 
*arvensc, L.* 
**filiformc, L.** 
*fragiferum, L.** 
tglomeratum, L.f 
fmaritimuni, L.f If 



Trifolium, L. 

* medium, L.* 

**minus, Rehl.* 

fochroleucum, L. 

**pratense, L.** 

♦procumbens, L.** 

**repens, L.** 

?fresupiuatum, L.?f1flQ4 

f scab rum, L.f 

fstriatum, L.f 

*subterraneum, L.** 
Triglochin, L. 

*maritimum, L.** 

♦palustre, L.f 
Triodia, Br. 

*decumbens, Beauv.* 
Triticum, L. 

*caninum, Huds.* 
*junceum, L.** 

floliaceum, Sm.f 

**repens. L.** 
Tulipa, L. 

|Jf sylvestris, L. 105 
Turritis, L, 

|| f glabra, L. 

TUSSILAGO, L. 

♦Farfara, L.* 
Typha, L. 

§angustifolia, L.§1f 

flatifolia, L.f 
Ulex, L. 

♦♦europseus, L.** 

**nanus, Forst.** 
Ulmus, L. 

**campestris, L.** 

Hfcarpinifolia, Lindl. 106 

|| f glabra, MiU.107 

Htfmajor, Sm. 108 

$*montana, Bauch.J* 

**suberosa, Elirh.* 
Urtica, L. 

**diocca, L.** 

Pfpilulifera, L.Pflf 

**urens. L.** 
Utricularia, L. 

f minor, L.f II 

f vulgaris, L.f 
Vaccinium, L. 

*Myrtiilus, L.* 

HfVitis-Idsea, L. 
Valeriana, L. 

fdiccca, L.f 

♦♦officinalis, L.* 

Ifrubra, L. 
Verbascum, L. 

fBlattaria, L. 

fnigrum, L.f 

3 R 



486 



THE BOTANY 



Verbascum, L. 
Htpulverulentum, Vill. 
**Thapsus, L.* 

Verbena, L. 
officinalis, L.* 

Veronica, L. 
**agrestis, L.** 
f Anagallis, L.f 
**arvensis, L.** 
**Beccabunga, L.** 
**Chamffidrys, L.** 
**hederifolia, L.** 
fmontana, L.f 
* Officinalis, L.* 
*polita, Fries.* 
fscutellata, L.f 
*serpyllifolia, L.* 



Viburnum, L. 

**Lantana, L.* 

*Opulus, L.* 
Vicia, L. 

*angustifolia, Sibth.** 

fbithynica, L. 109 

**Cracea, L.** 

jlfleevigata, Sm. 

flatlryroides, L. 110 

Hflutea, L. Ill 

?fsatira, L.?f 

**sepium, L.** 

fsylvatica, 112 

VlNCA, L. 

?*major, L.?* 
?fminor, L.?f 



Viola, L. 

**canina, L.** 

**hirta, L.* 

flactea, Sm.f 

**odorata, L.** 

ftricolor, L.f 
**j3. ai-vensis, D.C.** 
Viscum, L. 

f album, L f 
Xanthium, L. 

Pfstrumarmm, L.?f 
Zannichellia, L. 

fpahistris, L. 113 
Zostera, L. 

*marina, L.** 



For many of the localities alluded to in the above 
marks, and some of which are named in the references 
below, I am indebted to the kindness of others, but my 
limits do not permit me to make the acknowledgment 
in each seperate case^fc. I may here, however, record 



* The author of this appendix is about to publish a Flora of Dorsetshire, in 
which he will have the opportunity of correcting this omission. To aid him in this 
undertaking, and to render it as complete as possible, he takes this public opportunity 
of requesting the botanists of the county, to inform him of any of the localities of 
the rarer plants, which may have come under their notice. All information of this 
kind, or on any other subject of local botanical interest, addressed to him at Poole, 
will be thankfully received and duly acknowledged. 



OF POOLE. 487 

my obligations to my excellent friend Dr. William 
Bullar, of Southampton, who formerly resided several 
years at Poole; to my lamented friend, the late John 
Roice, esq., of Wimborne, and others for some of the 
nearer localities, and for many of the more distant, to 
Miss Maria Attersoll, of Weymouth, to Mrs. Mary 
Frampton, of Dorchester, to the Rev. A. Bloxam, ivho 
left at Mr. Commins 9 library, a list of the plants he 
found during a visit to Weymouth, and to Mr. Commins, 
for his kindness in lending me the list. 

I have availed myself also of the following vwrks, 
** Pulteney 9 s catalogue of the more rare plants of Dor- 
setshire ;" " Turner and Dilhuyn 9 s Botanists 9 Guide' 9 ; 
** Watson *s new Botanists 9 Guide ;" and " Sheridan 9 s 
Guide to the Isle of Wight, 99 — a large portion of the 
island lying within thirty miles of Poole. 

For other information in the last named locality, I am 
indebted to the kindness of Dr. Bromfleld, of Ryde, for 
the use of his MS. of a Flora of the Isle of Wight, ichich 
he is about shortly to publish. 



488 THE botany- 



LOCALITIES OF THE RARER PLANTS. 



The Figures answer to the references in the Alphabetical List. 



1, In the Stour, above Blandford. 2, on the Downs 
between Swanage and Studland. 3, on the sea shore at 
Seldown. 4, near Christchurch. 5, Corfe-Castle. 6, 
Blandford race-ground. 7, sea shore at Lake, in Ham, 
8^, in Purbeck, &c. 9, in the boggy fields by the straw- 
berry gardens, at Constitution Hill. 10, at Tillywhim. 
11, in a lane leading from the Weymouth and Chickerell 
road to Wyke Regis. 12, North and South Haven beaches. 
13, about Weymouth. 14, " In the year 17G6, I found 
a considerable quantity of this plant near the rope-walk at 
Weymouth, and on the spot where Gloucester Row and 
the Royal Terrace now stand. It was lost in three or four 

rs after that period." Dr. Pulteney, 15, Corfe-Castle 

16, Purbeck cliff's. 17, near Spetisbury. 18, about 

uth. 19, near Witchampton. 20, in lanes atMerley. 

21, in a bog in Purbeck. 22, sea shore at Seldown. 23, by 



* I have given this name (louchitioides) to a variety of this fern, (Asnidiura angulare, 
Willd., resembling the so named variety of A. loh;itum, Sw. 



fiF POOLE. 489 

the Stour, rarely. 24, Encombe wood. 25, near the shore 
at Seldown. 26, about an old kiln at South Haven. 27, 
wet heaths, Parkstone, &c. 28, formerly found near 
Blandford. 29, abundantly as a weed in a garden at 
Poole. 30, at the foot of the walls in some streets in Poole. 
31, and 32, by a spring at Melbury, near Shaftesbury. 
33, by quarries in Purbeck. 34, Poole and Corfe Mullen 
old road. 35, meadows near Blandford. 36, South Haven 
beach. 37, Corfe-Castle. 38, ballast quay, Ham. 39, 
Cranborne Chase. 40, in Purbeck. 41. in a hedge near 
Sturton, on the road to Mere, in a situation apparently truly 
wild. 42, Parkstone. 43, in a garden at Salisbury as a 
weed. 44, woods at Grange. 45, Broadley wood. 46, near 
Sturminster Newton. 47, between Wareham and Corfe- 
Castle. 48, formerly found near Poole. 49, Langton 
farm. 50, on the cliffs at Studland, abundantly. 51, in 
common mead fields and elsewhere near Gillingham. 
52, Canford. 53, at Encombe wood. 54, and 55, at Lake, 
in Ham. 56, and 57, road side at Longham. 58, and 59, 
in watery places near Wareham. 60, and 61, at Langton. 
62, ballast quay, Ham. 63, at Corfe-Castle. 64 ; Langton 
and Spetisbury. 65, near Blandford. 66, at Encombe. 
67, on chalk downs, and on walls. 681 on Hod Hill^r. 
69, Broadley wood. 70, and 71, woods at Lytchett. 72, 
ballast quay, Ham. 73, Stour Paine bushes, near Bland- 
ford. 74, in corn fields by the Salterns, Parkstone. 75, 
by the river near Blandford. 76, in the field by the " Case 
is altered," at Tatnam. 77, in a pond in Purbeck. 78, in 
the Stour by Longham bridge. 79, in Purbeck. 80, near 
Cranborne. 81, in a hedge at Seldown. 82, near Wim- 
borne. 83, and 84, on Wareham heath. 85, near Ham 
bridge on the Poole side. 86, and 87, near Holburv house, 



* This is a variety of Linaria spuria, Mill., first noticed I believe, by Dr. Pulteney, 
in the situation above named, and subsequently in other situations, by Sir W. 
Hooker and others, but without any distinctive appellation. It resembles the Peloria 
of L. vulgaris, Mcench., and I have therefore given it the name of pelorioides. 



490 THE BOTANY 

in the New Forest. 88, near Netley Abbey. 89, and 90, 
about Lytchett, 91, and 92, in the copse at Bare-cross. 
93, Encombe. 94, about Poole. 95, at Corfe-Mullen, 
in the lane to Knowle. 96, ballast quay, Ham, 97, near 
Wimborne. 98, near Corfe-Castle. 99, Swanage. 100, 
on the shore at Ham, to the west of the ropewalk. 101, 
clay-pit, near Corfe-Castle. 102, by the Itchin ferry, 
near Southampton. 103, in meadows about Charlton. 
104, near the ballast quay, at Ham^. 105, near the 
church at Melbury, near Shaftesbury. 106, 107, and 108, 
near Weymouth. 109, and 110, in Purbeck. Ill, on 
the banks of the Backwater, between Weymouth and 
Radipole. 112, Stoke Hill. 113, In ditches communi- 
cating with the Stour, 



* In 1831, I discovered this second British station of Tbifolium Resupinatum, L. 
at the east end of the rope-walk, close by the anchorage, at Ham. From specimens 
•which I hare distributed to different botanists, it is now generally known to grow 
near Poole, though a great mistake prevails as to its frequency and abundance. 
Accordingly Watson in the supplement to his " Botanists' Guide," writes, " Shores 
of Poole harbour, but I did not find it. — W. A. Bs.omfie.ld. MSS." and Sir W. 
Hooker, in the fourth edition of his " British Floiia." gives it as found in " meadows 
about Poole." The plant was always confined to a few square yards in the above 
named situation, These circumstances are correctly stated in the Supplement to the 
English Botany, in the the text accompanying Tab. 2789, which is taken from a 
specimen I sent Mr. Sowerley in 1834. I fear from its being so near the ballast quay, 
it can scarcely be considered indigenous, and I am sorry also to add, that of late it 
has become nearly extinct. 



OF POOLE, 



491 



ENUMERATION 



OF THE PLANTS CONTAINED IN THE CATALOGUE. 



GENERA. 



Within 8 miles of Poole, indigenous 335 ; ? 9 

Within 1 6 miles of Poole, indigenous, 366 ; ?12 ; 

Beyond 16 miles, and within 30 miles, of } 9^ . ? ^ 
Poole, indigenous, 



TOTAL NUMBER 
OF GENERA. 



£15 
J15 



S{ 



422. 



SPECIES AND VARIETIES. 



Within 8 miles, . . 1 sp ' 
' 5 var. 

Within 16 miles,.. 1 sp ' 
' 3 var - 
Beyond 16 and £ sp. 
within 30 miles. S var - 


I. 


II. 


III. 

Total 

776 
29 

877 

30 

112 

2 


Indigenous. 


1 

23 


25 

6 



* 

31 



32 

5 



** 

! 285 
9 

260 

9 



, 


250 
11 

301 
11 

1 



I 

51 
2 

52 
2 

17 

1 


t 

190 

7 

264 

8 

94 

1 


722 
29 


820 

30 

101 

2 


Total within 30 ? sp. 
miles \ var. 


921 
32 


31 




37 



26C 

9 


3021 69 
111 3 


1 358 
I 9 


1 989 
1 32 



Those found within 8 miles, and not< 
otherwise within 16 miles, are. . . .< 



GENERA, ....11. 
SPECIES, ....57. 
VARIETIES,.. 2. 



The varieties in the catalogue would appear more numerous, but it 
was thought unnecessary to give more than the principal ones. 

ERRATUM : 
In the List, for Mentha gracilis, Sm., read M. agrestis. Sole. 



END OF APPENDIX. 



VC7 



ERRATA. 

p. 24, line 5 from the bottom, for "1266," read "1256." 
p. 32, line 9, for " 2nd Edw. Ill," read " 10th Edw. III." 

ADDENDUM. 

p. 60. The Hon. W. F. S. Ponsonby was, in June, 1838, by letters 
patent, raised to the peerage by the style and title of Baron de Mauley, 
c£ Canford, in the county of Dorset. Lady Barbara Ponsonby had a 
claim to the barony de Mauley, as the descendant and representative 
(through her maternal grandmother) of Elizabeth, one of the two sisters 
and co-heirs of the eighth Peter de Mauley. This Elizabeth de Mauley 
married George Salvayne, esq,; and the wife of the last Sir John Webb 
was the representative of this branch of the family. 



,'C7 



